.U54 
1973 



General Orders 

of 

George Washington 

issued at 

Newburgh on the Hudson 

1782-1783 




PAI,ISAI)I';S INI I:RSI A'l T I'ARK - KOKHACH 



Washington's Headquarters, Newburgb, N.Y. 
The Hasbrouck house is of Dutch Huguenot design completed in 1770. General 
Washington selected this house for his headquarters from May 1782 to August 1783. 
It is in this building the so called "Crown Offer" was made to Washington; The 
Badge of Military Merit (Purple Heart) was awarded and the cessation of hostilities 
was released besides many other post hostility events which took place. 



a I, 

General Orders 

of 

George Washington 

Commander-in-Chief 
of the Army of the Revokition 

issued at 

Newburgh on the Hudson 

1782-1783 



Compiled and edited by 
Major Edward C. Boynton 



With an Introduction by 



Alan C. Aimone 

Military History Librarian 
United States Military Academy 



HARBOR HILL BOOKS 

Harrison, New York 
1973 






United States. Army. Continental Army. 

General orders of George Washington, Commander- 
in-Chief of the Army of Revolution, issued at 
Newburgh on the Hudson, 1782-1783. 

Reprint of the 1909 ed. 

1. United States. Army. Continental Army. 

2. United States — History— Revolution — Sources. 

3. United States — History — Revolution — Campaigns 
and battles. I. Washington, George, Pres. U. S., 
1732-1799. II. Boynton, Edward Carlisle, 1824-1893, 
ed. III. Title. 

E259.U54 1973 973.3'38 73-16354 



Introduction Copyright 1973 Alan C. Aimone 



Printed in U.S.A. 



Harbor Hill Books, P.O. Box 407, Harrison, N. Y., 10028 




PALISADES INTERSTATE PARK — BRADFORD 



The headquarters office as seen today has in it a tiger maple desic which was used by 
General Washington at his earlier Ellison House Headquarters in 1779-1780. The 
high back Windsor chair is believed to have been in the Newburgh headquarters and 
used by Washington. In one of the General's letters he made reference to how com- 
fortable the high back Windsor chair in his office was. 




PALISADES INTERSTATE PARK — HRADIORD 



The HasbroLick House has three Dutch designed open fireplaces in the dining room, 
(pictured) the kitchen and room of 7 doors. This design was used in the Hudson 
Valley Dutch houses until about 1800. When selecting this house for a headquarters, 
a note was made that the fireplaces drew well and did not smoke up the house. 



INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION 

Tlie general orders of George Washington issued at the 
Hasbrouck Headcjuarters at Newburgh, New York were 
brought together by the historian Edward C. Boynton, a 
West Point graduate, in 1883. The 1973 edition has re- 
used a 1909 reprint. A summary and background material 
of the general orders issued in 1782 and 1783 is provided 
in the followintr introduction. 



During 1782 and 1783 General George Washington, 
Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, had troops 
stationed in widelv scattered locations from Albany, New 
York, to Charleston, South Carolina. The lack of wagons 
to transport suppHes to a single encampment forced 
Washington to separate his small army and station units 
in many strategic locations. Horses had to be widely dis- 
persed for forage, only a few dragoons accompanied 
Washington. The main force of the Continental Army, 
howe\er, was located on the Hudson River to counter 
British capture of the vital base at West Point and other 
Hudson Highland outposts and to establish better bar- 
gaining positions at the Paris Peace Conference in 1782 
and 1783. 

The Hudson Highlands follows the river between New- 
burgh and Stony Point, with the northern limit of the 



II INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION 

Highlands near New Windsor. At the time of the Ameri- 
can Revolution, the Newburgh and New Windsor area 
combined had approximately 1,500 inhabitants. Early in 
the American Revolution, these towns contained supply 
depots and were rendezvous centers for patriots from 
Tory held areas in and around New York City. Billeting 
for soldiers and civilians in the region was so limited that 
temporary shelters became common. 

The Hasbrouck House in Newburgh served as Wash- 
ington's headquarters and official residence from March 
31, 1782 to August 18, 1783, a period longer than any 
other site during the Revolution. It is a Dutch style farm- 
house built in 1725 by a blacksmith. Burger Mynders, and 
became the property of Jonathan Hasbrouck in 1750. The 
Hasbrouck House was situated on a commanding plateau 
on the west bank of the Hudson River. Its substantial 
stone construction and excellent view of the river made 
it ideal as a headquarters. 

Jonathan Hasbrouck, an industrious and successful 
businessman, was a merchant, farmer, surveyor, grist mill 
owner and later colonel of the 4th Ulster County New 
York Militia Regiment. He died in 1780. Mrs. Trynt je 
Du Bois Hasbrouck, his widow, sat in sullen silence when 
told her home was to be used for Washington's head- 
quarters. Twenty-one carpenters prepared her home for 
the general, his staflF, official guests and servants. Despite 
these improvements, the confined quarters were little 
better than those at Valley Forge. A glum Mrs. Has- 
brouck reluctantly departed to stay with relatives in New 
Paltz, New York.* 



"New York State acquired the Hasbrouck House in 1850, which 
thus became the first historical preservation in the country. It is 
now a Historical Landmark site. 



INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION III 

Visitors at Xewburgh described Washington at age 
fifty as plain, easy and affable, with a grave and com- 
posed look that was often penetrating. His six foot three, 
209 pound frame and long Roman nose were distinctive 
physical features. Washington believed in prudence and 
moderation and was a plain eater and dresser. His shirts 
were of fine linen but had no ruffles at the wrists. He 
always wore his boots and only rode in a carriage when 
Martha Washington was with him. Washington's gray 
hair was combed smoothly back into a small queue and 
needed very little powder. On davs when he had no 
visitors to entertain and no accounts to compute, he read 
the descriptions of classic military leaders such as Gus- 
tavus Adolphus, Sully and Turenne. Officers in the Con- 
tinental Army found Washington polite and very formal. 
His men had respect and admiration for Washington and 
placed great confidence in him. 

Martha Washington's bountiful dinners were social 
events at the Hasbrouck Headquarters. Dinners were 
always formal affairs as a Washington full dress dinner 
started with the chaplain saying grace at five o'clock; a 
five minute variation was allowed for slow time pieces. 
Dinners were generally two hour, three course events 
and were prepared by a good German cook. Claret or 
Madeira wine was often enjoyed with dinner. Meat and 
vegetables were served first, followed by pastries and 
finally nuts and apples, which Washington especially 
enjoyed despite his bad teeth. Hickory and walnuts were 
shelled with a hammer and slowly eaten with picks. Tea 
and coffee were served from a French silver service. The 
quartermaster oftentimes bartered salt for cider, apples, 
nuts, butter, roots, vegetables, pickles and cranberries to 
enhance Washington's table. The congenial conversation 



IV INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION 

at these dinners helped bind the relationship between 
Washington and his officers. 

The American columns moved from King's Ferry on the 
26th and 28th of October, 1782 to the vicinity of New- 
burgh and Little Britain. The last encampment of the 
Continental Army was at strategic New Windsor, located 
at the crossroads where the overland routes from New 
England, the middle, and southern states crossed the 
Hudson River. The river provided easy boat or sleigh 
transportation from New York City to the Mohawk River 
and Lake Champlain routes. Billeting for generals and 
their staffs was difficult to find as Newburgh had only 
48 buildings and New Windsor but 24 dwellings. A log 
hut encampment on 1,600 acres in New Windsor was 
used for 9,000 men of the Continental Army represented 
by troops from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New 
York, New Jersey and Maryland and another 2,000 
Connecticut troops were stationed at West Point. In- 
spector General Baron von Steuben with Quartermaster 
General Timothy Pickering selected this site for the 
winter encampment because there was an ample supply 
of food, water, forage, and timber. It was also protected 
from sudden attacks by the Highlands and West Point 
and offered maximum flexible movement. 

The army relied on local residents with their ox carts 
to carry the sick to makeshift hospitals and to transport 
additional firewood and provisions. The staple diet of the 
troops was mostly meat and bread. Some provisions were 
scarce and had inflated prices. Regulated army prices 
were invoked on turkeys which sold for $3, geese $2, 
chickens 50?!, potatoes $1.37 per bushel, butter $1.37 per 
tub, brown sugar $2 per pound and a loaf of sugar $5 per 
pound. Soldiers often bartered in salt with local residents 



IXTRODUCTIOX TO REPRINT EDITION V 

instead of using the higlily inflated continental currency 
or state monies. Regimental gardens were planned and 
provided perishable food stuffs. Soldiers collected seeds 
for their gardens with the help of the Quartermaster Gen- 
eral who adxertised in local newspapers for garden seeds. 
Each officer's hut had its own kitchen garden. The Valley 
Forge experience taught the army that an inadequate 
supply of vegetables brought on disastrous bouts with 
scurvx'. 

Some 700 buildings, housing fourteen understrength 
regiments and one detachment of Marylanders, dotted 
the New Windsor Cantonment. The most important struc- 
ture to be erected in the Cantonment was the "Public 
Building" or "Tlie Temple of Virtue." "The Temple" as 
it was more commonly called, was built on Jabez At- 
wood's farm, three miles southwest of Snake Hill and 
Newburgh. Dr. Israel Evans, chaplain of the New Hamp- 
shire Brigade, suggested a need for a building with a 
spacious hall to accommodate a brigade of troops for 
church serxice. It was the first building erected by the 
American Army to be used as a chapel. The officers 
responsible for the construction insisted it also be used 
for general assemblage purposes and as an administra- 
tive building. The actual work on the Temple spanned 
the period from January 9, 1783 to March 6, 1783. Orig- 
inally, the building was to be built in fifteen days by the 
troops but bad weather delayed its use until February 
15, 1783. All regiments shared in the construction work 
of the rectangular, one-story structure which was 110 feet 
long, 30 feet wide and required 21,000 shingles, 5,120 
feet of timber and other materials. Each unit supplied 
its share of the building materials. Work was begun by 
168 men hauling stones on sleds, 14 masons laying the 



VI INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION 

foundation, 28 carpenters framing timbers, and 42 men 
helping. All were under the supervision of 24 sergeants 
or corporals and two officers. It had two field stone chim- 
neys and a cupola with a flag staff for signal flags. Each 
worker was rewarded with a gill of rum plus a half ration 
of food on the spot. Protestant chaplains rotated the use 
of the Temple on Sundays. The Temple contained four 
small side rooms used as oflSces for furloughing the dis- 
banding troops, issuing supplies, court-martial, special 
meetings and other routine matters. 

Officers and troops kept occupied at New Windsor 
Cantonment doing necessary routine military jobs. How- 
ever, the rollicking young officers enjoyed the environ- 
ment two miles away at the Red Tavern, which served as 
the leisure time junior officer's meeting place. 

Regiments and brigades were inspected on a rotating 
basis and were criticised or praised for their appearance. 
With the warmer days of summer, inspection reports im- 
proved as the troops assembled more for drill and could 
repair their clothing. 

On April 14, 1783, units drew lots for scarlet cloth to 
reface the lapels, cuffs and collars of their coats. Many 
of the troops were armed and clothed from French sup- 
plies or captured British stores. Shoes were particularly 
difficult to obtain in the quantity needed. Uniform coats 
were kept in good appearance and condition by substi- 
tuting hunting shirts for them in warm weather or over 
the coats to protect them from wear in cold weather. 
Throughout the whole army, the men's hair was cut and 
tied in the same manner. An order on August 12, 1782, 
called for 200 pounds of flour and a half pound of tallow 
per one hundred men for hair dressing. Often, there were 
not enough hats and shirts to go around; the Massachu- 



INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION VII 

setts and Connecticut Lines had to cast lots for the 
Hmited supphes. 

Not surprisingly, in such a concentration of men living 
with suppl\- shortages, greed and thievery occurred at 
the Cantonment. Periods of inactivity developed, with 
soldiers getting into all sorts of trouble, mostly due to 
sheer boredom. Jeremiah Allen, a drummer in the 8th 
Massachusetts Regiment, was court-martialed on April 
15, 1783 for stealing shirts and blankets and others were 
con\icted of stealing shoes and food. Whipping posts 
were set up in different camp areas. A sentence for steal- 
ing, both for soldiers and soldiers' wives, was often one 
hundred lashes on the naked back, the lashing being 
divided into four different sessions done in four different 
areas of the camp. 

Problems resulting from liquor were a major concern 
for some of the soldiers. Camp peddlers or sutlers selling 
rum stirred up trouble at the New Windsor Cantonment 
by discounting notes for rum, a practice which was dis- 
couraged by the provost officers. Each soldier was placed 
on a liquor roll and the amount he consumed recorded, 
and those who drank too much rum were struck off the 
liquor rolls. Soldiers who forfeited their liquor ration of 
a gill per day [Y4 of a pint}, or did not drink, had the 
option of trading their liquor ration for vegetables or 
other articles. Sergeants were assigned the task of mixing 
water with the rum ration after Washington issued an 
order on Ma)' 16, 1783 to prevent the "evil practice of 
swallowing the whole ration of liquor in a single 
draught." 

W'ashington was a great inspiration to his soldiers and 
helped maintain their morale despite their meager and 
irregular pay, poor clothes and equipment. An honorary 



Vm INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION 

badge of distinction for veteran enlisted men was a nar- 
row piece of white cloth sewed on the left coat sleeve 
of those who served for three years. The original order 
initiated on August 7, 1783, was adjusted by some regi- 
mental commanders to use instead the facing color of 
the uniform coat. 

A more unique badge for soldiers was initiated by 
Washington on April 17, 1783. Washington established 
the "Badge of Military Merit", the first military decora- 
tion in the world that could be earned by enlisted men. 
The Badge of Military Merit was awarded by a board 
of officers for singularly meritorious action and military 
leadership and was worn on the lapel over the left 
breast. The United States Army's first decoration was 
a figure of a heart in purple cloth edged with a narrow 
silver metallic cord for a binding. The Badge of Military 
Merit is known to have been issued to only three ser- 
geants: Elijah Churchill of the 2nd Regiment of Light 
Dragoons, Daniel Bissell of the 2nd Connecticut Regi- 
ment, and William Brown of the 5th Connecticut Regi- 
ment. Today, Churchill's Badge of Military Merit is on 
display at the New Windsor Cantonment's rebuilt 
Temple. The War Department upon President Herbert 
Hoover's recommendations revived the decoration on 
February 22, 1932, as the Purple Heart awarded for 
Americans wounded in action. A memorial figure of 
George Washington is on the present Purple Heart. 

Life at the Cantonment was not entirely one dull day 
after another. When General Washington made inspec- 
tion visits on horseback to the Cantonment, it was cus- 
tomary for the troops to throw up their hats, or their hands 
if they had no hat, and shout "Huzzah!" Particular cele- 
brations observed in the Continental Army were the 4th 



INTRODUCTION' TO REPRINT EDITION IX 

of July, the capture of Stony Point on July 15, 1779, 
Washington's birthday on February 22, May Day, Christ- 
mas and New Years. On Thursday, Febmary 6, 1783, the 
New Windsor Cantonment troops gave a "feu de joie", or 
fire of joy, to celebrate the anniversary of the French 
alliance with the United States. In a feu de joie soldiers 
were assembled in a line. Each soldier fired his flintlock 
starting at the right end of the line, one after the other. 
Each cannon was then fired separately and in turn. 

On September 14, 1782, before the New Windsor 
Cantonment was built, six thousand men from Washing- 
ton's Arm)' rowed barges across the Hudson River at 
King's Ferry to Verplanck Point, across from Stony Point, 
to greet the French Army on its way from Yorktown, Vir- 
ginia, to Boston, for its voyage back to France. The 
united forces could hear the British evening gun at 
Kingsbridge at the northern tip of Manhattan Island. 
This reunion of Yorktown comrades was celebrated joy- 
fully as both American and French marquee tents were 
arched in front and finely adorned with laurel, ever- 
greens and boughs of other trees. A handpicked brigade 
of American troops demonstrated musket exercises and 
marching wliich French officers admitted was the equal 
of the finest veteran drill units on the continent of 
Europe. 

Earlier in the year, on May 31, 1782, another cele- 
bration of alliance had been observed at West Point. 
The announcement of the birth of a Dauphin, or French 
crown prince, was cause for a gala celebration bv Wash- 
ington's Army which received an extra gill of rum per 
man. Ten blank cartridges were issued to each musket- 
man and an order for a feu de joie was given, including 
the firing of every field piece customarily assigned to 



X INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION 

each brigade. About five hundred officers and their wives 
and guests went to West Point for a banquet dinner and 
ball. Thirteen toasts were proposed after the meal, fol- 
lowed by an artillery discharge, three cheers by the 
troops, and a fireworks demonstration with rockets, pyro- 
technic wheels, fountains, trees, bee-hives, balloons, stars 
and fleurs de lis. A three cannon salute opened and closed 
the ceremony. 

Through secret agents, Washington knew that peace 
negotations, which had been dragging on in Paris, were 
progressing to a decision in 1783. Actually, the Treaty 
of Paris was signed on the 20th of January but word of 
it did not reach America until March 12, 1783. On the 
15th of April the treaty was ratified by the Continental 
Congress but Washington, with a sense of history, de- 
layed the official announcement of the cessation of hos- 
tilies until April 19, 1783, eight years to the day after 
the firing at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. At 
noon on that day, from the doors of the Temple, the 
Commander-in-Chief formally announced the Peace of 
Paris to his troops. The war-worn soldiers greeted this 
marvelous news with three great huzzahs! A prayer was 
ofiFered by Chaplain John Ganno and an anthem titled 
"Independence" was rendered by both vocal and instru- 
mental music. The troops enjoyed the announcement 
even more when an extra ration of rum was issued to 
every man. They drank to perpetual peace, independence 
and happiness for the United States of America. 

The Continental Army had not been contented at New 
Windsor Cantonment. However, Washington was well 
aware of the hardships, lack of pay, sufferings of the 
men, and the inabihty of the Continental Congress to 
act swiftly and eflFectively. For two months, he did not 



INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION XI 

receive public money to support his headcjuarter's meal 
table and he was not able to keep in close touch with 
his French allies since he could not aflFord to feed the 
courier's horses. The long inactivity of the army since 
the Yorktown campaign added to the complaints and 
discontent. Washington read with dismayed siuprise the 
letter from Colonel Lewis Nicola, head of the Invalid 
Regiment, suggesting that he be a military dictator or a 
limited monarch. Nicola and others wanted a proNcn 
leader who could guide the coimtr\' to prosperity rather 
than Congress which each state heeded only as it saw fit. 
Washington refused but was concerned that state gov- 
ernments considered themselves the primary government 
over the central United States government. A strong cen- 
tral government and a strong leader was needed or 
thirteen separate countries could have been formed. 

A crisis arose on March 11, 1783 when the "Newburgh 
Letters" were written. They were a rude awakening to 
Congress although there had been serious mutinies 
among the enlisted American troops in 1780 and 1781. 
Twenty-six year old Major John Armstrong, Jr., later to 
be the Secretary of War under President James Madison, 
was aide-de-camp to Major General Horatio Gates. 
Armstrong wrote the Newburgh Letters anonymously to 
force the Continental Congress to secure settlement of 
officer claims against the government before demobili- 
zation. Back pay, unsettled food and clothing accounts, 
plus half-pay life pensions had not been provided by 
Congress. The army was worried about being turned 
loose into a civilian world with neither work nor money 
to tide their families over until they found a job or made 
a job. On March 15, 1783 Washington made a strong 
personal appeal to his officers in the Temple. The offi- 



XII INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION 

cer's anonymous letters were effectively answered. Wash- 
ington read Joseph Jones' closely written letter and re- 
marked in effect as he stumbled with his glasses, "You 
must pardon me, I have grown gray in your service and 
find myself growing blind." Jones, a discerning member 
of Congress from Virginia, described the financial prob- 
lems Congress had to cope with before it could meet 
the just claims of the officers. Washington revealed he 
shared the exasperated officers' troubles and promised to 
use his influence to secure justice for them. In his speech, 
Washington established the principle that, in a free so- 
ciety, the military must always remain under civilian 
control. This speech was another high point of Wash- 
ington's tremendous personal leadership. The Newburgh 
Letters' crisis passed but the soured veterans were not 
to be fully compensated with their back pay since the 
struggling new nation was to remain poor for a long time. 
In April of 1783 the Continental Army officers were 
thinking about disbanding and breaking the close rela- 
tionships they had established with each other during 
the war. Henry Knox had proposed an organization to 
perpetuate the friendships formed among the officers 
and, at the same time, create a fund for officers' widows 
and orphans. A preliminarv meeting of the Society of 
Cincinnati was held at the Temple on May 10, 1783, and 
was to become the first veteran officers' organization in 
the United States. The Society was formed at Baron von 
Steuben's headquarters in Fishkill on June 19, 1783, and 
elected Washington as President-General, Alexander 
McDougall as the first Treasurer and Knox as Secretary 
pro tempere. Although Washington had nothing to do 
with organizing the Society, and had some objections to 
it, he agreed to become its president. Upon Washington's 



INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION XIII 

death, Alexander Hamilton beeame President of the 
Societv. The Society of Cincinnati started some traditions 
of fnture United States veteran organizations. 

Throughont the war, Washington appealed for desper- 
ately needed powder, recruits, small arms, clothing, 
blankets, horses, fodder and food through "circular let- 
ters," identical letters sent to governors of all states and 
sometimes to particular regions. Washington wrote his 
last circular letter at the Hasbrouck Pleadcjuarters in ref- 
erence to his prospective retirement and to the hopeful 
future of the United States. He considered an indis- 
soluble union of states under one federal head, a sacred 
regard to public justice, the adaptation of a proper peace 
establishment, and the idea of a united community of 
interest without local prejudices to be essential to the 
wellbeing of the United States. These ideas helped to 
mold the political thinking of the leaders to establish a 
strong central government. 

Washington issued his last order at Hasbrouck House 
on August 17, 1783 before he left to meet the Conti- 
nental Congress at Princeton, New Jersey. The Conti- 
nental Army was furloughed gradually so the Continental 
Congress would not entirely lose hold on the soldiers 
before the treaties were ratified and also to save money. 
The administration of muster rolls and the settlement of 
accounts had begun on April 1, 1783. After June 6, a 
regiment was disbanded each dav until only one detach- 
ment was left at the New Windsor Cantonment for ordi- 
nary duties. Penobscot and Stockbridge Indian scouts 
were also disbanded. Furloughs were liberally approved 
beginning June 2, 1783, and full and free pardons given 
to non-commissioned officers and privates in confinement. 
The Continental Treasury was so empty that tiie soldiers 



XIV INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION 

were sent home with no pay but with chits for three 
months' arrears and with their muskets as a farewell gift. 
Congress issued a proclamation announcing the definitive 
peace and provided for the honorable discharge of all 
those soldiers "enlisted for the war" on October 18, 1783. 

West Point and Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania, became the 
designated main depositories of military stores after the 
signing of the preliminary Peace of Paris. Ordnance, 
quartermasters' and subsistence stores were shipped by 
barges to West Point. On September 2, 1783, an auction 
was held to dispose of the remaining buildings at the 
Cantonment. Soon little trace of the New Windsor Can- 
tonment remained as the lands were farmed once more; 
only artifacts and faint building and road traces were 
left. 

A farewell order by General Washington was issued 
on November 2, 1783 at Rocky Hill, New Jersey, near 
Princeton. Washington bid the troops an affectionate 
and a long farewell. When the British finally gathered 
enough shipping, they pulled out of New York City. 
Eight hundred Continental Army soldiers marched and 
rode into the city with Washington, New York Governor 
George Clinton and other New York State officials to 
regain control of the city. General Henry Knox com- 
manded the mixed force of Captain John Stakes' West- 
chester Light Dragoon Militia, Major Sebastian Bauman's 
Lamb's Artillery detachment. Colonel Joseph Vose's Bat- 
talion of Massachusetts Line troops and Lieutenant Col- 
onel Wilham Hull's picked Light Infantry stationed at 
West Point. Although the British had greased the flag 
pole to hinder raising the Stars and Stripes, quick think- 
ing Americans fetched a ladder to help hoist the new 
United States flag without delay. The Commander-in- 



INTRODUCTION TO REPRINT EDITION XV 

Chief's last official meeting with his officers was in the 
long room at Fraunces' Tavern in New York City at noon 
on December 4, 1783, when he bid a half-choked sad 
farewell to his closest officers. It was their last dinner 
together. The British fleet finally left the shore of the 
outer New York Harbor on December 23, 1783. Wash- 
ington returned his commission of Commander-in-Chief 
to the Continental Congress meeting at Annapolis, Mary- 
land, on December 23, 1783, while traveling to Mount 
Vernon, Virginia, to attend Christmas celebration with 
Martha and her grandchildren and for his first sight of 
home in eight years. 

West Point, September 1973. Alan C. Aimone 

Military History Librarian 
U.S.M.A. Library 



ANNOTATIONS 
by Alan C. Aimone 

p. 13, line 8, Ensign Philip Corey (resigned in May, 1782) 

p. 16, line 29, "subalterns" were equivalent of lieutenant in 
rank. 

p. 19, line 18, "cocking" refers to the turning up of the brim 
of military tricorn hats in a regular fashion. 

p. 22, line 28, a "gill" is equal to Va pint of liquid. 

p. 28, line 2, a "light company" was a hand picked unit of 
younger and smaller men chosen for led, flank and rear 
guard duty plus darmg frontal assaults or vital flank posts 
in battle. 

p. 39, line 24, Ensign Josiah Abbot, later transferred to the 
2nd Massachusetts Regiment. 

p. 40, line 3, Ensign Daniel Parker later transferred to the 
10th Massachusetts Regiment. 

p. 81, line 27, Sergeant Elijah Churchill 

p. 81, line 28, Sergeant William Brown 

p. 86, line 13, Sergeant Daniel Bissell 



GENERAL ORDERS 



OF 



Geo. Washington 

Commander-in-Chief of the Army of 
the Revolution 



ISSUED AT 



NEWBURGH ON THE HUDSON 

1782 - 1783. 
By MAJOR EDWARD C BOYNTON 



NEWS COMPANY 4i^^ NEWBURGH. N. Y. 



INTRODUCTION 



THl'2 General Orders of Washington during the 
_^_^ War for Independence have never been pub- 
^^^ hshed in full ; and in consequence of the dis- 
persion and destruction of the original copies, 
no hope is entertained of their ever being presented in 
one unbroken, continued series, from the first to the 
last. 

Many of the Orders herein have not been placed in 
type until now. The two Newburgh letters, "To the 
Officers of the Army," have been furnished from origi- 
nal copies, and are absolutely correct. The Roll of 
Officers of the Continental Army is taken from original 
MSS.. as is also the letter in regard to the Great Chain. 
This collection includes all the Newburgh Orders of 
Washington known to exist, and it is ])robable that few, 
if any, are missing. 

The sketches of individuals and incidents of a local 
character are chiefly compiled from the "American His- 
torical Record," through the courtesy of Dr. Benson J. 
Lossing and Messrs. John E. Potter & Co., Publishers, 
Philadelphia, and are appended as interesting centennial 
subjects. An especial acknowledgment is due to Mr. 
Joseph Van Cleft, of Newburgh, for the cut of the old 
Head-quarters. 

Newbuf.gh, N. Y., May i, 1883. 




WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS 

FROM THE NORTH 



WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS 



AT NEWBURGH, N- Y. 



O 



F all the buildings used by General Washington 
as head-quarters during the Revolutionary War, 
none is so interesting as "The Hasbrouck 
House" at Newburgh on the Hudson. 

Its locality, in the south-west portion of the city, is 
not at present, with its surroundings of manufactories 
and inferior dwellings, suggestive of its former digni- 
fied position somewhat apart from the town, and stand- 
ing on a rise of ground which commanded a prospect 
in every direction ; but there is still the wide outlook 
from it up and down the river which made the resi- 
dence so valuable to Washington as a point of observa- 
tion. 

It is a rough gray stone mansion, a story and a half 
in height, with a gamble roof, and nearly fifty-six feet 
in depth and width. An old picture represents it as 
being rather an attractive house externally, and it prob- 
ably was as good in all respects as any dwelling in the 
neighborhood. 

"The Hasbrouck House" takes its name from Jon- 
athan Hasbrouck, grandson of one of the Huguenot 
founders of Newburgh. It was completed in 1770, and 
from the first seems to have in part been used for pa- 
triotic purposes. Public meetings were held in it, and 



O WASHINGTON S HliAD-OUARTERS 

during the early part of the Revolution the Committee 
of Safety of the precinct assembled within its walls ; 
military companies were here organized, and from before 
its doors the regiment which Colonel Hasbrouck com- 
manded, marched away to defend the Highland forts. 

General Washington resided in this building from 
the spring of 1782 until August 18, 1783, nearly one 
hundred years ago. His family was composed of him- 
self, his wife, and his aide-de-camp. Major Tench Tighl- 
man. A Mrs. Hamilton was house keeper, and a wide 
hospitality was extended to the officers in the neigh- 
borhood. As the house is preserved in nearly the 
same condition it was in when Washington used it, 
there is little difficulty in picturing the scenes within 
its walls, as described by the Hon. John J. Monell in 
his "Hand Book of Washington's Head-quarters." The 
front of the house is toward the west, the rear facing 
the Hudson, and a lawn surrounds it which originally 
sloped down to the river. At the south-east corner is 
a small enclosed piazza, or Dutch "stoop," and from 
this there is entrance to the main apartment of the 
house, "the room with the seven doors and one win- 
dow" — as it has always been called — the living room 
and dining room. Here Washington received his guests, 
and those who came to him on business. From this room 
a door opened into his bed-chamber, in the north-east 
corner of the house; another into his private office; a 
third into the hall; a fourth into a storeroom; a fifth 
into a cellar-way ; a sixth into the kitchen ; and a seventh 
into a private family room. The one window is toward 
the east and in a corner. 

A huge fireplace occupies nearly all the south side 
of the room ; the wide, open chimney, with its black- 
ened throat (through which one can get a good glimpse 



WASHINGTON S II KAU-OUARTKRS. 7 

of the sky when standing on the hearth) telhng of the 
great fires of logs which hghted up this homely recep- 
tion place, with its bare oak floor, incongruous archi- 
tecture, and boarded ceiling supported by whitewashed 
beams. The fire-tongs and shovel used by Washing- 
ton's servants, possibly by the General himself, to keep 
the hearth bright and warm, still stand by its side. 
Five o'clock r. m. was the dinner hour at the head- 
quarters, and the guests of the day assembled prompt- 
ly. General Steuben, stationed at Fishkill, General 
La Fayette, stationed at New Windsor, and General 
Wayne, from Stony Point, were ever welcome ; their 
piquant stories of travel and experiences making merri- 
ment for their entertainers. Steuben was sure he had 
seen a whale in the Hudson — it proved to be an eel — 
and La Fayette told his trials in attempting to visit 
Mrs. Knox — which made Mrs. Washington laugh heart- 
ily. Years and years after, when La Fayette was an 
old man, and was visiting in a country house in France, 
his host, M. Marbois, produced a pleasant surprise for 
the venerable soldier. One evening, with other guests, 
La Fayette was led from the magnificent drawing-room 
into an odd chamber, where a plain oak table was covered 
with dishes of meat and vegetables, decanters, and silver 
mugs of wine. A great fire roared on the hearth-stone, 
and with all its homeliness the room had a look of pleas- 
ant hospitality. ''Where rim I ?" said the old man, look- 
ing about him like one in a dream, and then, with great 
emotion, burst out, "The seven doors and one window ! 
We are at Washington's Head-quarters on the Hudson !" 
With this pleasant picture before us we must remember 
its reverse side, and that Washington passed the most 
anguished hours of the Revolution at "The Hasbrouck 
House" ; the year of greatest distress throughout the 



8 WASHINGTON'S HEAD-QUARTERS. 

country ; of complaints and discontent in the army, and 
of inactivity on the part of Congress. It was here that 
his soul was horrified by a proposal made to him by 
some malcontents, to become King, for the "national ad- 
vantage." Here he remained, north of the Highlands 
and close to the Hudson, to counteract the plans of the 
British Ministry, who hoped, by obtaining control of the 
river, to separate the Eastern from the Southern States. 
The Hudson had, in fact, become the strategic line of 
the contending armies, to which the Highlands were the 
key. Through his secret agents, Washington watched 
his powerful antagonist from the Hasbrouck House, and 
when the news came of the cessation of hostilities, it 
was proclaimed to the army, and celebrated with suitable 
rejoicings, by his order. While the details of the cele- 
bration on this occasion have not been fully preserved, 
it is reasonable to suppose that the exercises were of 
the same character as those which took place on the 
3d of May, 1782, and described in "General Orders" of 
May 29 and 30. 

In wandering through the rooms of the Head-quar- 
ters at Newburgh, at the present time, the visitor is 
rewarded with the display of over seven hundred ob- 
jects of historical interest in connection with the Revo- 
lution and our war with Mexico, arranged in glass 
cases, etc., too numerous by far to give more than pass- 
ing mention here. There is considerable furniture that 
was in the rooms during Washington's residence — tables, 
chairs, etc. Martha Washington's watch, an authenti- 
cated lock of Washington's hair, and also one of La 
Fayette's, are carefully preserved. The sword of Aaron 
Burr hangs on one of the walls. There is a diminutive 
piano, made in London in 1730, by Astor, and said 
to have once been the property of General James Clinton. 



WASHINGTON S IIRAD-QUARTKKS. 9 

Of the portraits, the best are copies made by Durand 
of Stuart's famous paintings of General and Mrs. Wash- 
ington, and owned by the P>oston Art Museum. The 
interesting "papers" alone would fill a large volume; 
letters, documents, orders, accounts, etc., all of exceeding 
value as pertaining to the history of our country. A 
good many articles of dress of Revolutionary times are 
noteworthy ; but, after all, the chief interest of the place 
is its connection with its illustrious residents rather than 
as a museum of historical relics. Mrs. Washington's 
parlor is the best room in the house, and here she spent 
her mornings receiving the ladies who called upon her. 
In the upper half story are several rooms and an open 
garret in its original construction. 

After the disbandment of the army, the Hasbrouck 
family returned to the house and remained in it until 
1849, when the title of the property was transferred to 
the State of New York, and, by an .\ct of the Legisla- 
ture, placed in the care of a Board of Trustees. July 
4, 1850, the place was formally dedicated with appro- 
priate ceremonies of a civic and military character, and 
at its conclusion Major (ieneral Winfield Scott raised 
the American flag on the flag-stafT amid the thunder 
of cannon and the rejoicings of the multitude. 

Thus the property was dedicated and set apart, to 
be forever a reminder of "times that tried men's souls," 
and to awaken patriotic memories. 



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DIAGRAM OF HEADQUARTERS. 



A— Sitting Room. 
B— Family Room.. 
C-Kitchen. 
D-Hall- 



E— Parlor, 

F— Washington's Office. 
G— Washington's Bed-room. 
H— Store-room. 



WASHINGTON'S ORDERS 

COMMENCING U'lTJI THE FIRST ORDER IS- 
SUED BY HIM AFTER ESTABLISHING HIS 
HEAD-QUARTERS AT NEIVBURGH. 



[Note. — On the 19th of August, 1781, General Wash- 
ington, with that portion of the American army destined 
to operate with the ahied French army in Virginia, left 
the "Highlands," (a region of country extending along 
the Hudson from Stony Point to Newburgh,) for the 
scene of operations. 

The surrender of the British army under Lord Corn- 
wallis having occurred in October, the French forces re- 
mained in Yorktown, while the American troops, which 
had composed the left wing of the allied army, returned 
to the Highlands. 

General Washington passed the winter following in 
Philadelphia, but on the 31st of March, 1782, he joined 
the main army, making his head-quarters at Newburgh, 
issuing from thence the following Order:] 

Head-ouakters, 
Newburgh, April 4, 1782. 
The Commander-in-Chief having returned and resumed 
the command of the main army, he presents his thanks 
to Major General Heath and the troops which have been 
employed under his order, for having preserved the im- 
portant posts committed to his charge, and covered the 
country so successfully against the depredations of the 
enemv durimr the absence of the (leneral. 



12 washington s orders 

Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, April 29, 1782. 

A return of public boats, specifying the different spe- 
cies, condition, where, and in whose possession or care 
they are, is positively to be delivered on the 6th of May. 

The Acting Quarter-master with the army is directed 
to have all the boats, from King's Ferry to Wapping's 
Creek, inclusive, collected immediately to the last-men- 
tioned place, except such as are so necessary for the 
common purposes of the army that the duty cannot be 
done without them. He will consult with Major General 
Heath* and the Commandant at West Point to determine 
this. 

The preservation of the boats in use must be attended 
to most strictly, and the officers or persons in whose 
charge they are left, must give their receipts, and will be 
personally responsible for them. Such flat-bottom boats 
and batteaux as are not fit for service are to be repaired 
without loss of time. 

It is expected the company of watermen under the di- 
rection of the Quarter-master will, at least, be competent 
to take care of the boats ; but if more aid is necessary it 
will be granted, but no excuse for negligence or waste in 
such an important article shall in future be admitted. 



HeAD-OL'ARTERS, 

Newburgh, April 29, 1782. 
The contractors for supplying provisions to the garri- 
son of West Point and its dependencies, are after the ist 
of May, until some alteration is made in the disposition 
of the army, to issue to the ist and 2d Massachusetts 
Brigades, the 3d Regiment of Artillery, and other such 
corps or parts of corps as may be stationed at West 
Point ; they are also to supply the troops at the Posts on 
the eastern side of the river in that vicinity, and the Posts 
of King's Ferry, Dobb's Ferry, and Fishkill. An issuing 

* William Heath was a native of Roxhiiry, JMass. Appointed 
Brigadier General June 22, 1775; Major General August 9, 1776; 
died January 24, 1814. The last surviving Major General of 
the Revolution. 



ISSUKD AT NKWnrKC.H. 1^ 

store must also be established by them at Xewburgh or 
New Windsor. The remainder of the troops are to be 
supplied under the contract for furnishing the moving 
armv. 



Head-ouartuks, 
X i:\vnuRGH, May 2, 1782. 

At a general Court-martial, whereof Major Derby is 
F*resident. Ensign , of the loth Massachusetts Regi- 
ment, is charged with disobedience of orders of the Com- 
mander-in-Chief, with respect to furloughs, and exceed- 
ing the limits of his furlough ten days — the Court, after 
mature deliberation, are of the opinion that the reasons 

offered by Ensign , in his defence for exceeding the 

limits of his furlough, are insufficient, and sentence him 
to be mulcted of his pay and subsistence for the ten days 
which he exceeded the limits of his furlough, and to l)e 
reprimanded in General Orders. 

The Commander-in-Chief approves the o])ini<)n of the 

Court. Ensign should not have overstayed his 

leave of absence without applying for and obtaining 
leave. Ensiirn is released from his arrest. 



Hi;ai)-ouarti:ks, 
XRwr.uKc.ii, May 3, 1782. 
The arrangement of the Captains of the Massachusetts 
Line being fixed by a Hoard of General and b'ield Offi- 
cers, duly authorized, is approved of by the Commander- 
in-Chief, and is to be considered as conclusive : a copy is 
in the hands of the Dei)uty Adjutant General. 



IIi:Ai>-orAK'ii:KS, 
Newbukc;h, May 3, 1782. 
The following arrangement of the Captains of the 
Massachusetts Line, being fixed by a Board of (jeneral 
and Field Officers, duly authorized, is approved of by 
the Commander-in-Chief, and is to be considered as 
conclusive : 



14 Washington's orders 

No. Names. Reg't. Date of Commission. 

1 Noah Allen i October i6, 1776 

2 Isaac Pope 4 January i, 1777 

3 Samuel Carr 8 " " 

4 Seth Drew 2 " " 

5 Sylvanus Smith 5 " " 

6 John Burnham 8 " " 

7 Nathaniel Gushing i " " 

8 Japheth Daniels 6 " " 

9 Nathan Goodale 5 " " 

10 xA-sa Coburn 7 " '' 

1 1 Daniel Pilsbury 6 " " 

12 George Webb 4 " 

13 Judah Alden 2 " 

14 Luke Day 7 " " 

15 Haffield White 5 " " 

16 Joseph Williams 3 " '•' 

17 Joshua Benson 5 " " 

18 Job Sumner 3 " " 

19 Amos Cogswell 8 " 

20 Jeremiah Miller i " " 

21 Christopher Marshall 10 " " 

22 Nathan Dix 8 March i, 1777 

23 John Blanchard g March 15, 1777 

24 William Worth 9 May 10, 

25 John Hastings 9 " 25, " 

26 Joseph Fox 9 June 23, 

27 Luther Bailey 2 July 7, 

28 John Williams i August 11' 

29 John Kilby Smith 6 February 12, 1778 

30 Simeon Larned 4 March 20, 

31 Seth Bannister 4 April i, " 

32 Elnathan Haskell 4 " 

33 James Tisdale 3 May 3, 

34 Stephen Abbott 10 May 28, 

35 Abraham Williams 2 September 29, 

36 Adams Bailey 2 November i, 

37 Thomas Hunt 9 March i, 1779 

38 Ebenezer Smith 6 " 30, " 

39 Henry Sewall 2 April i, " 

40 Benjamin Haywood 6 " 10, " 



ISSUED AT NEWBURGir. 



15 



No. 

41 
42 

43 
44 
45 
46 

47 
48 

49 
50 

51 
52 
54 
55 
56 
57 
58 

59 
60 
61 
62 
63 
64 
65 
66 

67 
68 

69 
70 
71 
72 
72> 
74 
75 
76 

77 
78 

79 
80 
81 



Names. Keg't. 

Christoplier Woodbridge. . . 3 

Phincas Bowman 5 

Thomas Turner y 

John Mills 1 

William Moore 4 

Robert Bradford 2 

Michael Gabriel Houdin.... 5 

John Pray i 

James Means 2 

Robert Walker 9 

William Watson 9 

Thomas Hartshorn 8 

Joseph Bates 7 

Matthew Chambers 6 

Silas Pierce 8 

Thomas Francis 10 

Daniel Lunt 3 

Thomas Pritchard 7 

Rufus Lincoln 6 

Mann AVattles 6 

Peter Clayes 4 

David Holbrook 4 

John Fuller 8 

Abner Wade 3 

John Fowler i 

Francis Greene 7 

Eliphalet Thorj) 

Zeb. King 

Jonathan Turner 8 

Ebenezer Smith 5 

Joseph Killam i 

Timothy Bennit i 

Benjamin Pike 6 

John Trotter 5 

Nehemiah Emersen 10 

Othniel Taylor 10 

James Buxton 10 

Jonathan Maynard 7 

Daniel Lee 3 

Jonathan Stone :; 



/ 
10 



Date of Comniissioh. 

April 10, 1779 
April 19, 

" 24, " 

May 3, '' 
June 15, 

" 21, " 

•' 28. " 

July 5; ;; 

" 15- " 
" 26 



October 8 

November i i 

December 5 

March 13 

" 24 

Aprd 13 



1780 

1780 



April 14 

Mav 12 

"' 26 

August 2,0 

September 20 

October 4 

6 

" 14 
October 14, 1780 

16. " 

" 18, " 

" 27, " 

" 30. " 

Januarv i, 1781 

" ' 25, " 

February i, " 

April 25, " 



i6 Washington's orders 

No Names. Reg't- Date of Commission. 

B2 William Mills 7 May 11,1781 

83 Simeon Lord 2 " 12, " 

84 John Hobby 3 July 24, " 

85 Samuel Henly 9 August 9, " 

86 Jonathan Felt 7 October 14, " 

Transcript of General Orders. 

(Signed) 
Edward Hand, Adjt. General. 



HeAD-OI'ARTERS, 

Newburgh, May 10, 1782. 
Until further orders no flag from the enemy at New 
York is to be received at any other place or post but 
Dobb's Ferry, on any business or pretext whatever ; nor 
is any flag from us to them to be sent to any other place. 
( )fficcrs or others bringing (les])atches from the enemy, 
are to be stopped at Dobb's Ferry, and their despatches 
immediately forwarded to the Head-quarters. It is ex- 
pected that all officers commanding on the lines or else- 
where will pay the strictest attention to this order. 



Head-quarters, 
Xewburgh, May 12, 1782. 
A Board, consisting of Major General Lord Stirling,* 
Brigadier General Hand and Colonel Nicola, will assem- 
ble at such time and place as may be agreed by them, to 
examine into the principles of the late arrangement of 
the subalterns in the Connecticut line, and to report 
their opinion whether the principles are consonant with 
those pointed out as the basis of such settlement by the 
Board of General Officers convened at Dobb's Ferry in 
August last, and whether the said arrangement ought to 
be conclusive or not. 



* William Alexander (Lord Stirling), horn in New York 1726. 
Father heir to title Earl Stirling; mother a New York lady; 
married sister of Gov. William Livingston, of New Jersey; ap- 
pointed Brigadier General INIarch, 1776; Major General Feb. 19, 
1777; died at Albany Jan. 15. 1783. aged 57. 



ISSUKD AT NliWBlRGII. IJ 

The papers relative to this husiness, at Head-quarters, 
will be laid before the Board, and all persons concerned 
are notified to exhibit such other representations and 
testimony as they may think proper 

A state of all the guards and detachments from the 
different regiments is to be delivered in at the Orderly 
ofifice by Wednesday next, in order to observe whether 
any alteration of the position and strength of guards, etc., 
is necessary, and to make provision for doing duty by 
corps. 

The regimental surgeons are desired to make regular 
weekly returns of the sick of their respective regiments 
to Dr. Craik, Chief Physician with the army. 



HliAD-QUARTERS, 

Newburgh, May 12, 1782. 
At a general Court-martial, held at West Point by or- 
der of Major General Heath, whereof Colonel Greaton 
is President, the following prisoners were tried : George 
Wilson, a soldier belonging to the late twelfth Massa- 
chusetts regiment, charged with desertion from a de- 
tachment when on command at White Plains. The Court 
adjudge the prisoner guilty of the charge against him, 
in breach of article i, section 6, of the rules and articles 
of war; but, as the prisoner surrendered himself under 
the proclamation of his Excellency the Commander-in- 
Chief, offering pardon to deserters, they are of the opin- 
ion that he should be excused from punishment, and re- 
leased from confinement Elijah Kelly, a recruit raised 
for the Massachusetts Line, charged with desertion. 
Found guilty, in breach of the above-mentioned Articles 
of War, and sentenced to receive one hundred lashes on 
his bare back. Sergeants Jared Bunce and Wyman Par- 
ker, of the third Connecticut regiment, charged severally 
with endeavoring to excite a mutiny in the Connecticut 
Line, and also not discovering an intended mutiny to 
their officers, when they knew a plan was laying and 
combination forming to carry it into execution. The 
Court, having considered the charges and evidence 



1 8 Washington's ordp:ks 

against the prisoner. Sergeant Jared Bunce, are of the 
opinion that the charge of endeavoring to excite a muti- 
ny in the Connecticut Line is not supported, and do ac- 
quit him of it ; they are also of the opinion that the evi- 
dence respecting the charge against him, of not discov- 
ering an intended mutiny to his officers when he knew a 
plan was laving and combination forming to carry it into 
execution, is insufficient to convict him of it, and do ac- 
quit him of it. The Court, respecting Sergeant Wyman 
Parker, are of the same opinion that they are respecting 
Sergeant I^>unce, and they do acquit him of the charges 
against him. The Court, having considered the evidence 
respecting the charges against Lud Gaylord, are of the 
opinion that he is guilty of endeavoring to excite a mu- 
tiny in the Connecticut Line, and that he is also guilty 
of not discovering an intended mutiny to his officers, 
when he knew a plan was laying and combination form- 
ing to carry it into execution ; which is in breach of tlie 
latter part of article 4, section 2 of the Rules and Arti- 
cles of War; and the Court (ujiwards of two-thir 's 
agreeing) do sentence him to suffer death. 

The Commander-in-Chief approves the opinion of the 
Court-martial, and orders the execution of Lud Gaylord 
on Monday, the 13th of May instant. Sergeants Jarel 
Bunce and Wyman Parker, and George Wilson to be re- 
leased from confinement. 

Elijah Kelly to receive his punishment at such time and 
place as shall be convenient to the officer commanding 
the regiment he belongs to. 



HliAD-orARTEKS, 

Xewbukgh, May 13, 1782. 
Mr. Nathaniel Sackett has obtained permission from 
the Commander-in-Chief to suttle to the army. Until 
further orders, upon his conforming to the regulations 
for conducting that business, which will be pointed out 
to him bv the Ouartermastcr General. 



issiKi) Ai .\i:\\ I'.iKcii. 19 

Hkai)-ouakti:ks, 
New DL'K(;ii, May 14, 1782. 

The ])aymasters of the several regiments will apply to 
the assistant Clothier General for shirts and hats. As 
there is not at present a full supjjly of hats for the army, 
two regiments in the Massachusetts Line and one in the 
Connecticut Line must remain unsupplied until hats can 
be procured, which will be as soon as possible. 

The commandants of regiments are to determine by 
lot or consent what regiments shall receive the hats in 
store. The regiments of the Massachusetts Line, which 
have lately received hats and shirts from their State 
clothier, are not to be considered in the ]>resent distribu- 
tion. .\s there may be sc^me little difference in the size 
of the hats, the several regiments which arc fortunate 
will cast lots which shall have the first choice. It is ex- 
pected that the commanding officers of corps which shall 
be completed with hats, will be extremely attentive to 
give them a military and uniform appearance by cutting, 
cocking, or adding such decorations as they may think 
proper. The clothier will use his utmost to obtain hats 
or caps as soon as possible for the three regiments which 
cannot be furnished from the stock now on hand. 

Previous to every inspection the Clothier General, or 
his assistant, will fiu'nish the Inspector with an abstract 
of the clothing which has been issued to each regiment 
since the last inspection, that by comparing their ac- 
counts with the company books, and the articles actually 
in possession of the soldier, the economy of the regi- 
ment may be evinced and all kinds of negligence or ir- 
regularity ])revented. 

The clothier is, if ])ractical)le, to obtain worsted shoul- 
der knots for the non-commissioned officers; the Ser- 
geants are to be distinguished by one on each shoulder, 
and the Corporals by one on the right shoulder ; and in 
the meantime it is proposed that a piece of white clotli 
be substituted by way of distinction. 

Major IJaylies is api)ointed an extra aide-de-camp to 
the C\)mmander-in-C"hief, and is to be obeyed accord- 
inirlv. 



20 washington s orders 

Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, May i6, 1782. 

The General is extremely concerned to learn that an 
article so salutary as distilled liquor was expected to be 
when properly used, and which was designed for the 
refreshment and comfort of the troops, has been in 
many instances productive of very ill consequences. 

He calls the attention of the officers of every grade to 
these abuses, and to watch over the health of their men, 
for which purpose he suggests the expedient of keeping 
liquor rolls in every corps, from which the name of every 
soldier shall be struck off who addicts himself to drunk- 
enness or injures his constitution by intemperance. 

Such soldiers as are struck off are not to draw liquor 
on any occasion, but are to receive other articles in lieu 
thereof. The quarter-masters, upon receiving com- 
muted articles, are to receipt for the full amount of ra- 
tions included in the returns, that there may be no irreg- 
ularity in the returns. The evil practice of swallowing 
the whole ration of liquor at a single draught is also to 
be prevented, by causing the Sergeants to see it duly dis- 
tributed daily and mixed with water at stated times ; in 
which case instead of being pernicious, it will become 
very refreshing and salutary. An object so essential to 
the health of the men ought not only to be superintended 
by the officers of Police, but to be deemed worthy to 
attract the attention of every officer who is anxious for 
the reputation of the corps to which he belongs, the wel- 
fare of individuals, and the good of the service. But it 
rests principally with the commandants of corps to have 
so useful a regulation carried effectually into execution, 
as well as to observe cleanliness and economy and good 
order within the sphere of their respective commands. 

Major General Heath will be pleased to settle with the 
Brigadiers and commanding officers of brigades the 
quantity of liquor proper to be drawn in kind by the 
troops ; after which he is authorized to commute by 
agreement with the contractors the rations of whiskey, 
or such proportions of them as may be judged ncessary, 
for vegetables or other articles, agreeably to the prices 
fixed in the contract to the component parts of a ration. 



ISSUED AT XEWBURGH. 21 

H EAD-Q U ARTEKS, 

Newburgh, May 17, 1782. 

The Commander-in-Chief proposes to take an early oc- 
casion of reviewing the army, previous to which the 
commandant of artillery will have a sufficient number of 
blank cartridges made to give ten rounds to every man. 
Major (jeneral the Baron Steuben will please to point 
out mananivers to be performed, and give the necessary 
directions to the troops accordingly. 

The Light Infantry Companies are to be completed to 
the full establishment out of the first recruits of a proper 
description for that service wdiich shall be received in 
the several State Lines. None but men enlisted for the 
war, or three years, are to be comprehended in this order. 



Head-quarters, 
Xewburgh, May 18, 1782. 
Upon a late visit to the Hospitals, the General w-as 
pleased to find them in such good order. He is happy 
in persuading himself that the most tender and assidu- 
ous attention will continue to be paid to the sick and 
wounded ; and that the circumstances of the public will 
enable them to be amply supplied with medicines, re- 
freshments and accommodations. 



Head-quarters, 
Xewburgh, Monday, May 20, 1782. 
The General did not make any remarks in the last in- 
spection returns, because at that time several corps had 
not received their new^ clothing, and consequently a dif- 
ference of appearance was unavoidable. He cannot, 
however, conceal the pleasure he receives from finding 
the two regiments of New York in the best order possi- 
ble, by the report of the Inspector General ; which also 
concurred w-ith his own observations. As, on the one 
hand, it will afiford the highest satisfaction to the Com- 
mander-in-Chief to have frequent opportunitites of giv- 
ing honorable testimony to military merit, so, on the 



2.2. WASHINGTOiX S ORDERS 

Other, he is convinced that the good of the service, and 
the faithful discharge of his duty require that every re- 
markable instance of demerit, want of attention, or negli- 
gence should meet with reprehension, he will not, there- 
fore, hesitate to commit to the record of the army what 
shall appear to him to be the distinguishing characteristic 
of any particular corps. 

H EAD-O U ART ERS, 

Newburgh, Tuesday May 28, 1782. 
The Commander-in-Chief is happ\' in the opportunity 
of announcing to the army the birth of a Daujihin of 
France ; and, desirous of giving a general occasion for 
testifying the satisfaction which, he is convinced, will 
pervade the breast of every American officer and soldier 
on the communication of an event so highly interesting 
to a monarch and nation who have given such distin- 
guished proofs of their attachment, is pleased to order 
a feu dc joic on Thursday next, and requests the com- 
pany of all the general, brigade and stafif officers of the 
army who are not necessarily detained by duty at West 
f'oint, on that day at four o'clock. Commanding officers 
of brigades and corps will receive particular instructions 
for their government. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, Wednesday, May 29, 1782. 
The troops are to be supplied with an extra gill of rum 
I)er man to-morrow. 

MEMORANDl'M. 

The Commander-in-Chief desires his compliments may 
be presented to the officers' ladies with and in the neigh- 
borhood of the army, together with a request that they 
will favor him with their company at dinner on Thurs- 
day next, at West Point. The General will be happy to 
see any other ladies of his own or friends' acquaintances 
on the occasion, without the formality of a particular in- 
vitation. 



ISSTED AT xi:\\ r.uKc. II. 23 

The rcginienial Ouartcr-niastcr will instantly apply 
ti) the eonduetor of military stores for three blank car- 
tridges, for each man and non-eommissioned officer; 
they will be careful that all the other cartridges are taken 
out of the boxes and delivered to the men as soon as the 
frii dc joic is over. Colonel Crane will please to direct 
that the thirteen cannon which are to com])ose the park 
are furnished with two hundred and eight blank cart- 
ridges; 1^'ort Sherburne six; the South Redout with 
three, and the garrison at Stony Point with thirteen. 

Colonel Crane's regiment of artillery will parade and 
receive his Excellency on his arrival, after which one 
Captain. Captain-Lieutenant, and two sub-Lieutenants, 
with sixty privates of the same regiment will form a 
guard of infantry, and receive the Ins])ector General's 
particular orders; the remainder of the regiment will 
man the batteries. 

The discharge of thirteen cannon from the park, after 
the first toast, will l)e followed b>- a similar discharge 
from the garrisf)n of Stony Point. 

The signal for the commencement of the fc\i dc joic 
will be given by the cannon from Fort Sherburne, and, 
in each volley, as soon as the regiment on the left of the 
line has finislied its fire, one cannon from the South Re- 
dout will be given as a signal for the park to renew the 
firing, which will be repeated three times. 

After the fireworks are played ofif. the ceremony will 
be concluded by a discharge of three cannon from Fort 
Sherburne. 

The officers will ])ay the most minute attention to the 
arms of the troops, that the\- niav be in the best possible 
order. 



HKAn-orAKTKKS, 

Xkwiu'kch. Thursday, May 30, 1782. 

The celebration of the birth of the Dauphin of France, 
which was to have taken place this day, is to be post- 
poned until to-morrow, the 31st inst. 



24 WASHINGTON S ORDERS 

A Programme for Conducting the Rejoicing on 
Friday, the 31ST May, 1782. 

The troops having previously cooked their provisions, 
will march from the cantonments at such an hour as will 
admit of their being at the places severally assigned 
them by half after two o'clock, post meridian, where they 
will remain in columns under cover until the discharge 
of three pieces of cannon at West Point, which will be a 
signal for the column to advance and display in full view 
of the Point, and stack their arms. That done, all the 
officers (except one field officer to each brigade and one 
battalion officer to each regiment on the east side of the 
river, who are to remain with their corps) are requested 
to repair to West Point, where the General expects the 
pleasure of their company at dinner. 

Dinner will be on the table at four o'clock, at which 
time a proportion of liquor will be distributed to each 
regiment and corps by their respective quarter-masters. 

After dinner thirteen toasts will be drank, and each 
toast announced by a discharge of artillery. 

As soon as the thirteenth is drank the officers will rise 
from the table and join their respective regiments. 

At half after seven the fcii dc joie will commence with 
the discharge of thirteen pieces of cannon from the park, 
succeeded by a fire of musketry from the infantry in the 
following order, viz : 

2d Massachusetts Brigade. 

1st Massachusetts Brigade. 

1st Connecticut Brigade. 

2d Connecticut Brigade. 

loth Massachusetts Regiment. 

3d Massachusetts Brigade. 

The firing being three times repeated in the same or- 
der, the officers commanding corps will, with an audible 
voice, pray to God to bless the Dauphin of France, and 
grant him long life and happiness, and the troops give 
three cheers. 

The fireworks will then be displayed from Fort Webb, 
and the ceremony concluded by a discharge of three 



ISSUKD AT NKWBUKGH. 25 

pieces of cannon from the park, which will also serve as 
a signal for the troops to return to their cantonment. 

[Note. — The Colonnade, or Arbor, erected at West 
Point in May, 1782, in which the birth of the Dauj^hin 
referred to was celebrated, is particularly described in 
Thacher's Journal, and in Major E. C. Boynton's History 
of \\'est Point. We quote from the latter work.] 

"Major Villefranche, an ingenious French engineer, 
had been employed with one thousand men about ten 
days in constructing the curious edifice. It was com- 
posed of the simple materials which the common trees 
in the vicinity afforded, being about two hundred and 
twenty feet in length, and eighty feet wide, supported 
by a grand colonnade of one hundred and eighteen pil- 
lars, made of the trunks of trees. The covering of the 
roof consisted of boughs or branches of trees curiously 
interwoven, and the same materials formed the walls, 
leaving the ends entirely open. On the inside every pil- 
lar was encircled with muskets and bavonets, bound 
round in a fanciful and handsome manner, and the whole 
interior was decorated with evergreens, festoons of flow- 
ers, garlands, emblematical devices, Hciir dc lis, and 
other ornaments significant of the existing alliance. 

"This superb structure, in symmetry of proportion, 
neatness of workmanship, and elegance of arrangement, 
has seldom, perhaps, been surpassed on any temporary 
occasion ; it affected the spectators with admiration and 
pleasure, and reflects much credit on the taste and abil- 
ity of ]\Iajor Villefranche. 

"The Arbor, in the evening, was illuminated by a vast 
number of lights, which, being arranged in regular and 
tasteful order, exhibited a scene vieing in brilliancy with 
the starry firmament. The officers having rejoined their 
regiments, thirteen cannon were again fired as a prelude 
to a general feu dc joic, which immediately succeeded 
throughout the whole line of the army on the surround- 
ing hills, and being three times repeated, the mountains 
re-echoed like tremendous peals of tlumder, and the 
flashing from thousands of firearms in the darkne.'^s of 
evening, could be compared only to the most vivid flash- 



26 W ASHIXC.'I'OX'S ORDKRS • 

es of lightning from the clouds. The fcii dc joic was im- 
mediately followed by three shouts of acclamation and 
benediction for the Dauphin by the united voices of the 
whole army on all sides. The celebration was concluded 
by the exhibition of fireworks, consisting of rockets, 
wheels, fountains, trees, bee-hives, balloons, stars, and 
flciir dc lis, admirably constructed and j^layed off at 20 
minutes past eleven o'clock. 

"His Excellency General Washington was unusually 
cheerful. He attended the ball in the evening, and with 
a dignified and graceful air. having Mrs. Knox for his 
partner, carried down a dance of twenty couple in the 
Arbor on the green grass." 

H.;aii-ouarti-:ks, 
Xkwp.l'RGH, Saturday, June i, 1782. 
The inspection and muster of the dift'erent corps com- 
prising the army will take place for the month of June 
in the following order, viz : The New York Brigade on 
the 4th of June, the Jersey Brigade and the first Massa- 
chusetts on the 6th. the York Artillery and Corps at Bur- 
lington on the 9th, the Rhode Island Regiment and 
Corps at Philadelphia, and the New Hampshire Regi- 
ments, on the 1 2th, the second Massachusetts Brigade 
on the 8th, the third Massachusetts Brigade on the loth, 
the tenth Alassachusetts Regiment on the 12th, the first 
Connecticut r>rigade on the 14th. the second Connecticut 
Brigade on the i6th, the Massachusetts Artillery on the 
i8th, and the Corps of Invalids, for the months they 
have not been mustered, on the 23d instant. The offi- 
cers, in making out their rolls, will be careful not to in- 
sert in the column of mustered, any men but those who 
will actually be present, and the Adjutants will make 
out the proof from that column alone. It is expected 
the books of the different regiments, by that inspection, 
will be completely opened, and the diff'erent entries 
made as were directed last year. Rolls scratched and 
blotted will in future not be received, and the different 
returns to be made are to be handed to the Inspector on 
the parade, signed and ready for examination. 



issiKi) Ar .\i-:\\ niKcii. 27 

IlllAD-nrAkTKKS. 

XicwiUKCii, Tuesday. June 4, 1782. 

The (Ictachnient on the lines is to be relieved by entire 
companies of light infantry in rotation; all other guards 
and detachments, exoe])t the water-guard, are to be fur- 
nished by corps, as far as the nature of the service will 
possibly permit. 

All guards and detachments are to draw provisions 
with their regiments sufficient to serve them during their 
entire tour, if ])ossible. When provisions will not keep 
the length of time they are detached for, or when there 
is a probal)ility of their being victualed at any other post, 
they are to carry with them certificates showing for what 
time thev have been victualed durin<j their absence. 



Hi:AD-(jrAKTKKS, 

Xi£wi!URGH, June 5, 1782. 

V>y the last inspection return tlie Commander-in-Chief 
with pleasure observes the army is in a much better state 
than it was the j^receding month. 

The regiments of the New ^'ork Line, the first Regi- 
ment of Jersey commanded by Colonel Crane, and the 
seventh ^lassachusetts Regiment commanded by Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Commandant [Irooks, are reported to be 
in excellent condition. 

The Cjeneral ho])es any little irregularities which have 
crept into the service may be immediately remedied, and 
the few regiments which are re|)orted to be deficient in 
attention, method or discipline, will, bv unremitted ex- 
ertions, prevent their l)eing noticed in an unfavorable 
manner at the succeeding ins])ection, and in consequence 
thereof iicld up to view in a disagreeable ]x^int of light. 



Ili:An-nr.\K'ii;RS. 

XKWP.rKc.n, Monday. June 10, 1782. 

The General was yesterday as well satisfied witli the 

appearance and mancjeuvering of the Second TJrigade of 

Massachusetts as he was two days before at the review 

of the V'\r<{ I'rigadc. He does not think he ever saw 



28 Washington's orders 

men in service make a more respectable and soldier-like 
figure than did the Light Company of the Eighth Regi- 
ment under arms. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, June 12, 1782. 

The Board of officers assembled pursuant to the orders 
of the 1 2th of May last, to examine into and report on 
the principles of the late arrangement of the subalterns 
of the Connecticut Line, have made the following report, 
which the Commander-in-Chief approves of. He there- 
fore directs that the officers who constitute that Board 
proceed as soon as conveniently may be to a final deter- 
mination of the relative rank of the subalterns of Con- 
necticut Line, agreeably to the principles laid down in 
their late report. To facilitate this business, it is ordered 
that a return, wherein the dates of the several commis- 
sions by which the subalterns of that line have served, 
shall be specified in the proper handwriting of each in- 
dividual, and which the commanding officer of the line 
shall certify to be correct, be without delay made to 
Major General Lord Stirling. The Adjutant General 
will furnish the form of the return. 

"The Board of officers appointed to examine into the 
principles of the late arrangement of the subalterns in 
the Connecticut Line, do report it as their opinion that 
the principles followed by the Board of Field Officers in 
forming that arrangement are widely different from 
those pointed out as the basis of such settlement by the 
Board of General Officers, convened near Dobb's Ferry 
in August last, and which they apprehend the said field 
officers mistook the meaning of, as they have disregard- 
ed the distinction between first and second lieutenants, 
intended to have been kept up by the arrangement of 
June, 1778, and which the general officers were of opin- 
ion should not be departed from. This Board are there- 
fore of opinion that the said late arrangement ought not 
to be conclusive, but that it ought to be revised and 
made consonant to the principles laid down by the Gen- 
eral officers in August last, by which this Board do not 



1SSL'I-:U) AT NIvWBUKGH. 29 

conceive it was intended that the rank of second heuten- 
ants, continued by brevet, should operate after promo- 
tion to a heutenancy, except in cases where a second 
heutenant and ensign have been promoted on the same 
day." 

Ahhough the Third l^rigade of Massachusetts, which 
was yesterday reviewed, did not in all respects make so 
good an appearance under arms as the other brigades 
have done, yet the Commander-in-Chief is disposed to 
give every favorable allowance, on account of the cir- 
cumstances. He does not impute it as a fault to the 
Third Regiment, that the men are not supplied with hats, 
without which it is impossible for a regiment to make a 
truly military figure. He attributes want of exactness in 
performing some of the manoeuvers of the brigade to the 
badness of their position in the mountains, which has 
prevented their exercising, except in detail. He remark- 
ed, however, with pleasure, that the platoon and battal- 
ion firings were performed with more regularity than in 
the other regiments ; and he flatters himself he shall 
have occasion, at a future review, to give the testimony 
of applause to which the unceasing efforts of both offi- 
cers and men shall justly entitle them. 

The Honorable the Congress have been pleased to pro- 
mote Brigadier General Knox, of artillery, to the rank 
of Major General in the army, to take rank from the 15th 
of November last. 

Captain Lillie, of the Third Regiment of artillery, is 
appointed aide-de-camp to Major General Knox. Capt. 
Shaw, his former aide-de-camp, is continued as such ; 
they are to be obeyed accordingly. 



Head-quauteks, 
Newburgh, Monday, June 14, 1782. 

Great credit is due to the officers and men of the Tenth 
Massachusetts Regiment for their attention to the pre- 
servation of their clothing, and for the military appear- 
ance they made yesterday under arms. The Light Com- 
pany attracted the General's particular notice. 



30 washixctox s ordkks 

Hkad-ouartkks, 
Xkwbi'rgh, June 16, 1782. 

The Connecticut llrigade appears to be comjjused of as 
fine a body of men as any in the army ; but as they have 
labored under the same disadvantage for the want of 
proper ground to exercise upon as the Third Brigade of 
Massachusetts, the General suspends his final judgment 
of their comparative merit with the rest of the army un- 
til a fairer opportunity of establishing their discipline 
can be afforded, by collecting the whole together in the 
field. Tiie General, in the meantime, is pleased to de- 
clare that some of the manoeuvers were yesterday per- 
formed with great precision, but he is sorry to find not- 
withstanding the recommendation contained in the or- 
ders of the 8th instant, that the men in the Light Com- 
panies do not take so good aim as he expected. He hopes, 
bv great attention and frecjuent practice, so useful a habit 
will be acquired. 

The General could not avoid feeling some concern that 
all the clothing did not appear perfectly fitted to the 
men, particularly the overalls. He wishes these defects 
mav be remedied as early and fully as possible. 



HKAD-OrAKTKKS, 

Xi:\\ lUKGii, June 18. 1782. 

The General informs the army that he had great occa- 
sion to be satisfied at the review of the Second Connecn- 
cut Brigade yesterday, especially with the soldier-like 
and veteran appearance of the men, and the exactness 
with which the firings were performed. He felt partic- 
ular pleasure in observing the cleanliness and steadiness 
of the Second Regiment under arms. The activity and 
emulation displayed by the detachment of artillery, dur- 
ing the late reviews, deserve encouragement and ap- 
plause. 

The review of this army by brigades being now com- 
pleted, the Commander-in-Chief is happy in this oppor- 
tunitv to present his thanks to Major General the Baron 



ISSIKI) AT XKW lilKCiil. 3 1 

Steuben.''' for tlie indefatigable assiduity and sint^ular 
attention exhibited in the late inspections and reviews, 
and for his eminent services in promoting the (Hsci])hne 
of the army on all occasions; and at the same time to 
express his approbation of the present laudable disposi- 
tion and pride of corps which seem to be dififused through- 
out the army. From this spirit of emulation, and a con- 
sideration of the amazing contrast between the past and 
present aj^jiearance of the troojis. the (ieneral antic!]:)ates 
the happiest consequences ; but, being i^ersuaded that 
appearance alone is not sufHcient to establish the repu- 
tation and ensure the success of our arms, and that fre- 
quent and repeated exercise is absolutely necessary to 
constitute the perfection of discii)line. he re(|uests in the 
most pointed terms, that the commanding officers of 
divisions and brigades will punctually exercise the 
troops alternately every other day, in brigade and by 
detail. 

In the course of these exercises the officers are ])ermit- 
ted to vary the maneuvers as time, circumstances and 
inclination may prompt, i)rovided they do not deviate 
from the established principles. lUit, in all cases, the 
General entreats the officers to pay the most minute at- 
tention to the soldier's method of priming and loading, 
as well as of leveling and taking aim. This is a matter 
of great consecjuence ; he ho])es, therefore, that the ut- 
most ])ains may be taken to instruct every individual in 
this essential part of his profession. 

The Honorable the Secretary of War has re(|uested the 
Commander-in-Chief to communicate the very singular 
satisfaction he enjoyed in the military appearance and 
regularity of discij^line so observable in the troops he 
had the honor to review, and at the same time assures 
the army he will not fail to represent their ('istinguished 
merit to Congress. 



'■' Frederick William Au;4iistiis Stcuhen — a native of Germany: 
compatriot of La Fayette — api)ointcd Inspector General I''eh. i<S, 
1778; Major General May 5. 1778; the orfj;aniziT and discipli- 
narian of the army; resigned .\pril 15, 1784; died at Steuhen- 
villc. X. v.. \ov. 2S. 1795 



32 washington s orders 

Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, June 19, 1782. 

The Court of Inquiry held at the Barracks at Philadel- 
phia the nth of May, by order of the Honorable Major 
General Lincoln, Secretary of War, whereof Brigadier 
General Williams was President, to inquire into the 
causes of a complaint exhibited by citizens of the State 
of Pennsylvania against the officers and soldiers belong- 
ing to a guard-boat, going to a flag of truce in the Dela- 
ware, by special order from the Minister, are of opinion 
that Lieut. Hobart could not, consistently with the or- 
ders which he had received, have permitted the said 
boat to pass without examination, and therefore think 
his conduct justifiable. 

The Commander-in-Chief accepts and approves the re- 
port of the Court. 

The Commander-in-Chief has, at the united solicita- 
tion of the officers of the army, presented the following 
congratulatory address to the Alinister of France : 

The Address of the C ouiuiandcr-in-Chief , the General 
and other officers of the American Army on the 
banks of the Hudson. 

Sir : Amid the general expression of joy on the aus- 
picious birth of a Dauphin, permit us, the officers of the 
American Army, to ofifer more than a silent approbation 
of those sentiments and congratulations which have 
been presented by Congress (the representative body 
and sovereign power of the United States) through you, 
to our great and illustrious ally, on this happy event. 
There are circumstances, sir, which render that which 
in a degree is pleasing to all, particularly so to some. 
The harmony and friendship which subsisted between 
the troops of your august sovereign and us, during the 
last campaign, (when the only contention lay in endeav- 
ors to exceed each other in acts of emulation and broth- 
erly kindness,) give us this pre-eminence.' The blood 
freely offered on both sides, and which was spilt in the 
same trench, and often mixed in a common stream, lor 
the support of those rights which are interesting to the 



ISSl'ED AT .XKWBL'RGH. 33 

feelings of humanity and the privileges of freemen, is 
such a cement to the friendship of the two nations, as 
nothing but a departvire from the principles of the Union, 
which heaven avert, can ever dissolve. 

Xot to participate, then, in the general satisfaction oc- 
casioned by an event which adtls to the felicity of a mon- 
arch, who may be viewed in the same moment as the 
father of his own nation and the protector of the liber- 
ties of others, and which contributes so much to the 
happiness of a people to whom we are allied in interest 
and affection, would be an argument of great insensibil- 
ity on our part. 

That Divine Providence may shed its choicest bless- 
ings upon the King of France and his royal consort, and 
favor them with a long, glorious and happy reign ; that 
the Dauphin may live to inherit the virtues and the 
crown of his illustrious progenitors ; that he may reign 
over the hearts of a happy and generous people, and be 
among the happiest in his kingdom, is our sincere and 
fervent wish. 

In behalf of the army. George Washington. 

To which his Excellency the Chevalier de la Luzerne 
was pleased to return an answer, of w^hich the following 
is a translation : 

To his Excellency General JVashington, Coimnander-in- 
Chief, the Generals and other Officers of the Ameri- 
can Army on Hudson River: 

Gentlemen : — I shall transmit to his Majesty the ad- 
dress you have been pleased to send me, on the birth of 
an heir to his crown. It will afford him infinite satisfac- 
tion to find with what joy this event has inspired you, 
and he will see with pleasure that the same army which 
has given so many proofs of courage and patriotism, and 
which has, in the most perfect harmony and concert 
with his own troops, fought the common enemy, now 
hastens to show that nothing which affects the French 
Nation can be indifferent to them. 

The young Prince, whose birth is the object of your 
congratulations, will, from his infancy, hear recounted 



34 WASHINGTON S ORDERS 

the glorious actions by which we have effected the inde- 
pendence and happiness of a vast continent ; and when 
they would cite to him examples of disinterestedness, 
constancy, courage, and every other military virtue, they 
will repeat to him the names of your illustrious Chiefs. 
He is born at a moment when victory has crowned both 
our nations. This circumstance is a happy presage of 
his future glory, and promises that he will one day be 
the support of your independence, as well as of the alli- 
ance which unites France with the United States. 

The veneration that your actions and your virtues have 
inspired me with, gentlemen, augments the pleasure that 
I have in conveying your sentiments to the King, my 
master. 

I beg you to be persuaded that no one is with more 
sincere respect, gentlemen, your very humble and very 
obedient servant, Le Chevalier de la Luzerne. 

[Note. — With the publication of this last order, Gen- 
eral Washington left Newburgh for other points in New 
York and New Jersey, where garrisons of the army were 
established, returning in August, at which time the pub- 
lication of Orders at Newburgh was resumed.] 



Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, August 7, 1782. 

Honorary badges of distinction are to be conferred on 
the veteran non-commissioned officers and soldiers of 
the army who have served more than three years with 
bravery, fidelity and good conduct ; for this purpose, a 
narrow piece of white cloth, of an angular form, is to be 
fixed to the left arm on the uniform coat. 

Non-commissioned officers and soldiers who have 
served with equal distinction more than six years, are to 
be distinguished by two pieces of cloth, set on parallel 
to each other, in a similar form. 

Should any who are not entitled to the honors, have 
the insolence to assume the badges of them, they shall 
be severely punished. On the other hand, it is expected 
these gallant men who are thus distinguished will, on all 



llSl"I-:i) AT NICWIU'KC.ll. 35 

occasions, be treated with particular confidence and con- 
sideration. 

The General, ever desirous to cherish a virtuous ambi- 
tion in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage 
every species of military merit, directs that wherever any 
singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of 
it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left 
breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk, edged 
with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of un- 
usual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity, and 
essential service in any way, shall meet with a due re- 
ward. Before this favor can be conferred on any man, 
the particular fact or facts on which it is to be grounded 
must be set forth to the Commander-in-Chief, accompa- 
nied with certificates from the commanding officers of 
the regiment and brigade to which the candidate for re- 
ward belonged, or to other incontestible proof ; and upon 
granting it, the name and regiment of the person, with 
the action so certified, are to be enrolled in the book of 
merit, which will be kept at the Orderly office. Men 
who have merited this last distinction to be sutfered to 
pass all guards and sentinels which officers are permit- 
ted to do. This order is also to have retrospect to the 
earliest stages of the war. and to be considered a perma- 
nent one. 



Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, August II, 1782. 

In order to prevent misapplication of the honorary 
badges of distinction to be conferred on the non-com- 
missioned officers and soldiers in consecjuence of long 
and faithful service, through any mistake or misappre- 
hension of the order of the 7th instant, the General 
thinks proper to inform the army that they are only at- 
tainable by an uninterruj)ted series of faithful and hon- 
orable services. A soldier who has retired from tiie field 
of glory forfeits all pretension to precedence from for- 
mer services ; and a man who has deservedly met an ig- 
nominious punishment or degradation cannot be admit- 
ted as a candidate for anv honorary distinction, unless 



36 Washington's orders 

he shall have wiped away the stain his reputation has 
suffered by some very brilliant achievement, or by serv- 
ing with reputation after his disgrace the number of 
years that entitle other men to that indulgence. 

The badges which non-commissioned officers and sol- 
diers are permitted to wear on the left arm, as a mark of 
long and faithful services, are to be of the same color as 
the facings of the corps they belong to, and not white in 
every instance, as directed in the order of the 7th inst. 



Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, August 12, 1782. 

The General notices with great complacency that strict 
obedience which has been paid to his recommendation 
respecting fitting and putting on the clothing, cocking 
and decorating the hats, as well as giving almost every 
other article a martial and uniform appearance. 

Notwithstanding the troops are verging so near per- 
fection, some small improvement may yet be made ; to 
wear the hair cut or tied in the same manner throughout 
a whole corps, would still be a very considerable im- 
provement; where it cannot be done in a regiment, sim- 
ilarity in a company would add much to the beauty of it. 

At general inspection and reviews, two pounds of flour 
and one-half pound of rendered tallow per hundred men 
may be drawn from the contractors for dressing the hair, 
upon returns of the number, and certificate of the use, 
signed by commanding officers of brigades, countersign- 
ed by the inspector ; an order given thereon by the Gen- 
eral next to the Commander-in-Chief, shall be a sufficient 
voucher to the contractor for the delivery. This gratu- 
itous supply to cease whenever the troops shall be en- 
abled to procure it another way. 



Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, August 17, 1782. 
Doubts having arisen how far a Colonel or Lieutenant 
Colonel Commandant is supposed to give up the super- 
intendence or command of his own regiment or corps. 



issi;ed at xewiu'Rgh. 37 

while commanding a brigade as senior officer of it, de- 
tached upon temporary duty, upon court martials or ab- 
sent on furlough, the Commander-in-Chief is pleased to 
make the following determinations, which are observed 
in future : 

While a Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel Commandant 
commands a brigade in which his own regiment or corps 
is included, he is to issue his regimental orders as usual ; 
he is to sign all regimental returns, and is to order and 
make all general regulations for the internal police of 
the regiment or corps, so far as they may be consistent 
with the regulations for the order and discipline of the 
troops of the United States. The same will apply when 
a Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel Commandant is upon 
court martial, in camp or garrison with his regiment or 
corps. But when a Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel Com- 
mandant is detached upon a temporary duty, or absent 
upon furlough, the command of the regiment or corps 
will naturally devolve upon the next senior officer, who 
will issue regimental orders and sign all returns which 
may be called for in the absence of his Colonel or Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Commandant ; but he shall, on no account 
whatever, presume to make any material alterations in 
the police which may have been established for the in- 
ternal government of the regiment or corps, without first 
consulting his Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel Command- 
ant, except he should be detached to such distance, or 
absent for such a time and at such a distance, that he 
cannot communicate with him without permitting the 
regiment or corps to suffer for want of such alteration in 
the meanwhile. 

The same rule may, in some degree, apply to the con- 
duct of general officers under similar circumstances. 
Should a Major-general commanding a division be neces- 
sarily absent, the eldest I^rigadier will, of course, com- 
mand the division during his absence ; but he is, not- 
withstanding, to retain the superintendence of his own 
brigade, issue brigade orders, and sign all returns relat- 
ing to it. 



38 Washington's orders 

Head-quarters. 
Nevvburgh, August 18, 1783. 

The General has the pleasure to inform the army of 
the total recovery of the State of Georgia from the 
hands of the enemy. On the nth of July the British 
evacuated Savannah, leaving the town and works unin- 
jured. 

Of the citizens who have returned to their allegiance, 
nearly two hundred enlisted into the continental Battal- 
ion of Georgia, and it was expected the corps would soon 
be completed without any expense. Brigadier-general 
Wayne,* who commanded in that State, appears to have 
merited great applause by his conduct there. 

The Regimental Paymaster will apply to the Deputy 
Clothier-general for a further suj^ply of hunting-shirts. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, August 19, 1782. 
The Honorable the Congress having thought it neces- 
sary, at this juncture, to pass the following resolutions, 
the Commander-in-Chief takes occasion to communicate 
them to the army : 

"By the United States in Congress assembled: 

August 12, 1782. 

"Whereas, from the late pubhcations, the people throughout the 
United States may be induced to believe that the Congress have 
received authentic communications upon the subject of an ap- 
proaching peace, 

"Resolved, That the letter of August 2d, 1782, from Sir Guy 
Carlton and Admiral Digby to the Commander-in-Chief be made 
public. 

"Resolved, That Congress consider the above letter a mere 
matter of information, inexplicit as to the nature and extent of 
the independency directed to be proposed by the British plenipo- 
tentiary, and as Congress have received no information upon 
this subject from their ministers for negotiating a peace, there- 
fore no public measure can or ought to be taken upon it in its 
present form. 



* Anthony Wayne, born at Easton, Chester Co., Penn., a Sur- 
veyor; appointed Colonel in 1775; Brig. General Feb. 21, 1779: 
distinguished very particularly in storming Stony Point ; died 
December — , 1796. 



IhSlliL) AT NKWBUKGll. 39 

"Resolved, Tliat it be, and it is hereby, recommended to the 
several States in the Union, not to remit their exertions for car- 
rying on the war with vigor, as the only effectual means of secur- 
ing the settlement of a safe and honorable peace." 

The sentiments contained in the foregoing are too just 
and obvious to need descanting upon ; the General there- 
fore flatters himself that both officers and soldiers, so 
far from relaxing in the least from that laudable spirit 
which at present actuates them, will rather increase their 
endeavors to render themselves perfect in the duties of 
their respective stations. They may be assured that the 
readiest way to promote lasting and honorable peace is 
to be fully prepared vigorously to prosecute war. 

N. B. — The letter alluded to in the above resolutions is 
that of the 2d of August, from Sir Guy Carlton and Ad- 
miral Digby to the Commander-in-Chief, which having 
already been published in most of the newspapers, it is 
thought to be unnecessary to transcribe into General 
Orders. 



Head-quarters, 
Newdurgh, August 20, 1782. 
At the general court-martial of which Colonel AI. Jack- 
son is President, Ensign . of the Tenth Massachu- 
setts Regiment, was tried for ungentlemanlike behavior 
in casting reflections on a late regimental court-martial, 
whereof Captain Lunt or Captain Taylor was President ; 
m particular, in saying that a certain soldier who was 
brought before the court would have been punished if 
there had not been partiality used, meaning by the 
members of the said court. The court, on consideration, 

are of the opinion that Ensign , in a conversation, 

said that a certain soldier, who was brought before a 
court-inartial, would have been punished had there not 
been partiality used, and that in so saying he conveyed 
a reflection on the court-martial which tried the soldier, 
which from the evidence, appears to have been the court 
of which Captain Taylor was President, in breach of Ar- 
ticle 5, Section i8, of the Rules and Articles of War, and 

sentence that Ensign be reprimanded in regimental 

orders. 



40 WASHINGTON S ORDERS 

The Commander-in-Chief approves the sentence of the 
court. It is to take place accordingly. 

At the same Court Ensign , of the Eighth Massa- 
chusetts Regiment, was tried, charged with exceeding 
the limits of his furlough, or leave of absence, four hun- 
dred and eighty-five days from the expiration, and neg- 
lecting to join his regiment when called upon so to do, 
agreeable to a resolve of Congress in such cases made 
and provided. 

The court, on consideration, are of opinion that the 

charges against Ensign are supported ; that he has 

been notified agreeably to the resolve of Congress Dec. 
6, 1779, to join his regiment, and that he has neglected so 
to do or to give satisfactory reasons for his remaining 
absent therefrom, and therefore sentence him to be cash- 
iered. 

The Commander-in-Chief approves the sentence, and 

directs that Ensign 's pay cease from the expiration 

of the date of his furlough. 



Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, August 21, 1782. 
The Light Infantry of this army is to be organized and 
commanded in the following manner : The four flank 
companies of Massachusetts, from the ist to the 4th regi- 
ment inclusive, to compose a battalion under the orders 
of Major Oliver; four others, from the 5th to the 8th in- 
clusive, to compose another battalion under the orders 
of Major Ashley ; these two battalions to form a regi- 
ment to be commanded by Colonel H. Jackson. The 
two remaining flank companies of Massachusetts, the 
flank company of the 5th Connecticut regiment, and that 
of Rhode Island, are to form a battalion under the com- 
mand of Major Dexter. The four companies of Connec- 
ticut, from the ist to the 4th inclusive, to compose an- 
other battalion under the orders of Major Smith ; and 
these two battalions to form a regiment under the com- 
mand of Colonel Webb. The four Light companies of 
the York and Jersey lines to form a battalion under the 
command of Major Forman. Those of New Hampshire 



ISSl'ED AT XEWm'RGH. 4I 

and the Canadian regiment will do duty with their re- 
spective regiments imtil further orders. 

The corps of Light infantry to encamp forthwith upon 
the high ground in front of Peekskill, and to be com- 
manded by the senior officer until further orders. The 
duty on the lines is to be done by them as usual. 

Major-general Knox will be pleased to anne.x two 
pieces of the light infantry to this corps. 

The Brigades of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Xew 
York, and Xew Jersey, are to hold themselves in readi- 
ness to march at an hour's warning ; those at West Point 
and in the vicinity of it will move by water. The Quar- 
termaster-general will, without loss of time, make a pro- 
portionate distribution of all the boats in repair, and not 
appropriated to other indispensably necessary uses, to 
the several brigades according to their strength ; the 
Quarter-masters of which are, without delay, to remove 
them to the nearest convenient landing to their respect- 
ive brigades, place guards over them, and are to be re- 
sponsible for the safe keeping and care of them till fur- 
ther orders. So soon as this order is complied with, re- 
port thereof is to be made at Head-quarters, together 
with the number and kind of boats delivered to each 
brigade. In this distribution the brigades of York and 
Jersey are to receive a due proportion. 

The relief of the infantry on the lines is postponed 
until it can take place agreeable to this day's orders,, of 
which Major Ashley is to be informed. 

The commanding officers of the infantry regiments 
will please, for the present, to appoint an Adjutant and 
Quarter-master to their respective regiments, from the 
subalterns of the infantry. 

The director of the hospital or physician to the army 
is requested to appoint a surgeon and mate to each regi- 
ment of infantry, from the regimental surgeons and 
mates. 

Head-quarteks, 
Xewburgh, August 22, 1782. 
Corporal Henry Beach and James Hills, of the ist 
Massachusetts Regiment. Samuel Smith, of the 2d Mas- 



42 WASHINGTON S ORDERS 

sachusetts Regiment, Thomas Fisher, James Clark and 
James Andrew, of the 3d Massachusetts Regiment, Bar- 
nabas Potter and Daniel Blanchard, of the 9th Massa- 
chusetts, colored, are to be sent to Major Villefranche, 
commanding engineer at West Point, to follow his direc- 
tions until further orders. 



Head-quarters, 
Nevvburgh, x\ugust 23, 1782. 

The army Ijeing now to assemble and take the field in 
the immediate presence of their General, he announces 
his resolution that perfect discipline shall be observed, 
as well on parade, in the duties of the camp, and the ser- 
vice of the guards, as in the general economy and order 
of the line. The General expects the same unabating 
ardor and attention will be seen in perfecting the troops 
in their exercises and manoeuvers which have already 
been productive of such astonishing effects ; relying on 
the ability, experience and zeal of his officers, the pa- 
tience, docility and fortitude of the soldiers, he promises 
himself that the good conduct of this army will hereafter 
be cited as a pattern for imitation by military men ; and 
that their past services and achievements are but a pre- 
sage of a richer harvest of glory in prospect. 

Under such auspicious circumstances he contemplates 
with infinite pleasure the moment which shall again 
unite our standards with those of our generous and gal- 
lant allies, in the face of our common enemy. That 
happy moment, he flatters himself, is not far distant. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, August 24, 1782. 
Major-general Knox* will please to order a field piece 

* Henry Knox, horn in Boston, Mass., in 1750; a book-seller; 
appointed a Colonel of Artillery Nov. 7, 1775; Brigadier-general 
Dec. 27, 1776; Major-general Nov. 15, 1781 ; Secretary of War, 
1785 ; died at Thomaston, Maine, October 25, 1806, aged 56 
years. At the time the order here quoted was issued, his head- 
quarters were at the John Ellison house in New Windsor. The 
building is still known as "Knox's Head-quarters." 



ISSUED AT .\i:\\ T.L'RC.II. 



43 



to each brigade. The Light infantry are to receive no 
more, notwithstanding the order of the 21st for two. No 
more artillery is to be taken into the field until further 
orders ; but the remainder of that corps, the sa[)pers and 
miners. Tenth Massachusetts Regiment, and corps of 
invalids, are for garrison and other duty at West Point, 
the command of which for the present, is given to Major- 
genl. Knox. 

The Tenth Regiment and Regiment of Invalids are 
to remove to the Point. The guards of the latter are 
to remain till relieved from the garrison. 

When the army 
marches, the regiment 
then next for fatigue is 
to remove to West 
Point, to be relieved 
weeklv ; and, as the ob- 




Kiiox'.s Hoailquarters. 



ject ot it IS to ai( 
the garrison in the 
execution of the 
very necessary and 
important works 
which are carrying 

on at that ])lace, the Commander-in-Chief most earnestly 
exhorts the commanding and other officers of it, and 
those which follow in succession, to use their l)est en- 
deavors to facilitate them, as the season is advancing fast 
when the work must cease. 



44 WASHINGTON S ORDERS . 

As the troops at and in the vicinity of West Point are 
to move by water, the General desires that as few horses 
as possible may be brought to the army, because it will 
be very difficult, as well as expensive, to provide for 
them, and the few which must of necessity be there, will 
be injured in proportion as the number is increased. 

This restriction applies also to the wagons, of which 
there can be no occasion for but very few, as the camp 
will be near the water. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, August 26, 1782. 
The Inspector of the army having reported that the 
shoes delivered to the troops are of very bad quality, the 
Clothier-general thinks himself aggrieved thereby, and 
has solicited that an inspection of the shoes now in store 
may take place. The commanding officers of regiments 
and corps will therefore assemble at the Colonnade to- 
morrow at 10 o'clock, and appoint three persons for that 
purpose ; and the gentlemen appointed will attend to 
that business immediately. They may call in to their 
assistance any shoemakers or other persons acquainted 
with leather, and not interested in the contracts, and the 
Clothier may do the same. Their report of the inspec- 
tion to be made to head-quarters before the army moves. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, August 27, 1782. 

The Brigade and Regimental Quarter-masters (ex- 
cept those for garrison duty), with the camp color-men, 
are to meet the Quartermaster-general at Verplanck's 
Point to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock, with such tools 
as he shall direct ; an engineer will attend to measure 
the ground and make a sketch of the camp. The Quar- 
termaster-general will be furnished with the order of 
encampment. 

Each brigade is to have a separate landing within the 
Point, in the order of their encamping, to which the 
boats at all times can have free access. With these land- 



ISSL'KD AT NKWIUKC.H. 45 

ings they are to open good communications, for the pur- 
pose of removing their baggage and for embarking and 
debarking the troops with facility. 

The r>rigade Quarter-masters will make a proportion- 
ate distribution of the boats which they have received, 
to the Regimental Quarter-masters ; and then again to 
their respective companies, that everything may l)e 
])roperly arranged ])revious to the order of embarkation. 
The Brigadier will assign four good oarsmen to each 
boat, and an officer who has some skill in the manage- 
ment, to take charge of them till further orders ; they 
will see that scoops are provided for freeing the boats of 
water in case they prove leaky. 

The boats designed for the Jersey and York brigades 
may be lent to otlier corps which re(|uire them most, but 
must be delivered up when the army gets to its ground. 

The ammunition in the hands of the brigades is to be 
critically examined and completed, the bad and indiffer- 
ent to be exchanged ; each soldier is to have a good flint 
in his musket, and another in his cartouch-box. This 
order extends equally to the light infantry. The regi- 
mental sick (unable to march, and whom it would be 
imi)roper to take into the field) are to be reported to the 
Director-general, who will order them to proper lios- 
pitals. 

Before the troops remove to their new position, it will 
be proper for the men's baggage and effects to be thor- 
oughly inspected, and the articles pointed out which 
they are to carry with them. They may take all their 
regimentals into the field ; but when they are completed 
with hunting shirts, it is expected the uniform coats will 
not be worn so long as the warm season continues, ex- 
cept on particular occasions, such as guards formed on 
the grand parade, inspections, reviews, etc. To keep 
the clothing in the best possible repair has become an 
object of so much attention that the General thinks it 
almost superfluous to repeat his recommendation in that 
respect, especially as it is now considered that not onlv 
the comfort and convenience, but even the reputation, 
of the corps depend essentially upon keeping everv arti- 



46 Washington's orders 

cle belonging to the soldier in the most perfect state, 
both for service and appearance. 

The Quartermaster-general, the Engineer, and the 
persons having the superintendence of the public armory 
at West Point, are called on to make immediate returns 
of the men drawn from the infantry regiments to serve 
as artificers, lime-burners, colliers, blowers, etc., in their 
several departments, specifying their names, the regi- 
ments they belong to, how long they have been under 
their direction, when and how employed. 

Congress having, by an act of the 23d of July last, 
made a new arrangement of that branch of the Medical 

Department in which Doctor was employed, and 

that gentleman, being by such arrangement no longer 
in public service, is not subject to trial by court-martial ; 
all further proceedings against him are therefore to 
cease, and the court are immediately to proceed to the 
trial of the officers in arrest. 

All persons in provost whose crimes, in the opinion of 
the Judge Advocate, are cognizable before a regimental 
court-martial, are to be ordered to their respective regi- 
ments for trial. 

The Adjutant-general having agreed to spare Ca])tain 
John Carlisle, of Hazen's regiment, one of his assistants, 
to do the duty of Brigade Major to the corps of light in- 
fantry, he will immediately enter on that service, and is 
to be obeyed and respected accordingly. 

The commanding officers of light infantry companies, 
while they are detached, are directed to make regular 
weekly returns on Thursday, of the state of their com- 
panies, to the commanding officer of the regiment they 
are drafted from. 



Head-quarters, 
Nevvburgh, August 28, 1782. 
At a General Court-martial, whereof Major General 
Howe is President, held at West Pomt bv order of the 



ISSUED AT NEWBL'KGII. 47 

Commander-in-Chief, J\[ajor General McDougall* was 
tried on the following charges, viz : 

1st. For ordering the distribution of a (|uantity of 
boards, (said to be about thirteen hundred, which were 
brought to West Point on the 6th of December last in a 
sloop commanded by Captain Van Alstine, designed for 
the use of the Department,) to the troops at West Point 
only, when their arrival ought to have been reported to- 
the commanding General (Gen. Heath), or the deputy 
Quartermaster-general of the Department, that an equal 
distribution might have been ordered, and other troops 
who equally needed them, some of whom were suffering 
with the small-pox, might have received relief. 

2dly. For not reporting to the commanding General 
the escape of upwards of thirt\- jjrisoners from the pro- 
vost at West Point, on the night of the 4th instant; that 
orders might have been sent to the outposts to take 
measures to intercept them in their way to the enemy ; 
and it being an occurrence which ought to have been re- 
ported. 

3dly. For drawing orders on the clothing store in 
Newburgh, particularly on October 26, 5th, 8th, nth, 
i8th, 19th, 27th, 28th, 29th. and November 7th, loth, 
1 2th, and i8th, and one for a servant of Ensign Davis 
without date, which is the prerogative of the command- 
ing General only, in which he signified to General Mc- 
Dougall, in a letter of the 26th of September last. Such, 
his orders, besides invading the rights of the commanding 
General, have involved some of the Pay-masters in em- 
barrassment in their accounts, particularly the Pay-mas- 
ter of the 3d Massachusetts Regiment. 

4thly. For writing a letter to the commanding Gene- 
ral (Gen. Heath,) on the i6th day of December last, in- 
jurious to command and unbecoming an officer. 

The letter is as follow\s : ..,,, _, ., _. 

West Point, N. Y., 

"Dec. 16, 1781, 7 p. M. 
"Sir: To be prepared for every contingency wliich might hap- 
pen on the river to interrupt our transportation. Colonel Putnam 

* Alexander McDougall, born in 17,32; Col. N. Y. Regiment, 
1775; Brigadier-general in August, 1776; Alajor-gencral in Octo- 
ber, 1777; died June 8, 1786. 



48 Washington's orders 

was out for several days to reconnoiter the country on both sides 
of the river for the most practicable routes to open roads, to 
bring in our provisions and forage ; he had not completed it when 
he was ordered on court-martial, although he was. for that im- 
portant object, kept off duty on garrison. The distress we now 
suffer is owing to his not being able to complete his observations, 
there being a supply of flour above the mountains, but neither 
the roads nor river was practicable. This is one of the disorder- 
ly effects of detailing the officers of this garrison with the army; 
nor is this the only instance of disorders from that practice ; 
an officer who was on main guard for a week was detailed for 
other duty. I shall not enter into any further discussion on this 
subject till the Commander-in-Chief comes on, when I shall apply 
to him to have this, and several other unmilitary practices, deter- 
mined in a more solemn manner than can be obtained, for, sir, 
give me leave to tell you, I know my own rights, and those 
of the garrison, not in speculation, but in as long and as at- 
tentive services as my superiors. In the meantime, sir, that the 
service may not be injured, and that the distressing and pressing 
calls of humanity may be relieved, I beg Colonel Putnam may be 
relieved, and suffered to go on that service. 
"I have the honor to be, sir, 

"Your most obed't and most humble serv't, 

"Alex'r McDoug.'KLl." 
"]\laj. Gen. Heath." 

5thly. For directing Colonel Crane, commandant of 
artillery in this Department, to deliver arms and accou- 
trements, on the 1 6th instant, contrary to the general 
order of the 4th instant, and threatening to send him to 
the provost in case of refusal. 

6thly. For conversing before the field officers of the 
general corps, stationed in the garrison of West Point, 
who were convened at his request, on the i6th of Janu- 
ary last, and in a manner unbecoming an officer ; for 
bringing into question General Heath's right to com- 
mand the garrison of West Point, representing his or- 
ders as unmilitary ; saying that an officer was not bound 
or obliged to obey orders, if he thought them improper, 
or unmilitary ; telling Colonel Crane that he had ill ad- 
visers, he believed ; that he believed General Heath had 
advised him ; desiring Colonel Crane to take the advice 
of the officers present, who, he said, were his country- 
men ; and many other things in the course of said con- 
versation, tending to excite sedition, create divisions, 



ISSUED AT NEWBURGH. 49 

subvert good order and discipline, and wound the ser- 
vice. 

/thly. F"or conversing before officers of different 
ranks, particularly on the evening of the 7th of January 
last, in a manner unbecoming an officer, saying that Gen- 
eral Heath's orders were subversive of all good order 
and discipline, and injurious from the sentinel to the 
eldest Major-general in the service; that he sent private 
commands to Colonel Crane without notifying him (Gen- 
eral INIcDougall) for the removing of a considerable 
quantity of ammunition from the magazine, and if that 
such practice prevailed in the army, it would be in the 
power of an Arnold at any time to dismantle and sell the 
garrison ; and publicly relating some matters that passed 
at a Council of War, at Mrs. McGowin's in 1776, respect- 
ing the retreat from New York; and saying that none 
were opposed to it but a fool, a knave, and an obstinate 
HONEST man; that General Heath was the knave; and 
many other things, in the course of the said conversation ; 
such conversation tending to lessen confidence in the com- 
manding officer, to limit command, bring orders into 
contempt, and destroy that due suborflination which is 
the life of discipline, and the only barrier against confu- 
sion and disorder. 

Lastly. For ordering two public buildings near Fish- 
kill Landing to be pulled down, in the months of Novem- 
ber and December last, viz : a bake-house and one 
other building, which Mr. George Fisher was ordered to 
pull down on the loth of December last, and the materi- 
als to be removed to West Point, making additions and 
erecting buildings at West Point without the knowledge 
or consent of the commanding General, particularly the 
addition to the house in which General McDougall quar- 
ters, and the building for the provost guard, when Gen- 
eral McDougall's command at the Post was of a tempo- 
rary nature only ; and such measures not warranted 
either by his instructions or military principles. 

The Court, on mature consideration of the charges 
against Major-general McDougall, the evidence in the 



50 WASHINGTON S ORDERS 

case, and the observations, both by General McDougall 
and the Judge Advocate, are of opinion : 

On the first charge, that Major-general McDougall 
did order a distribution of the boards mentioned in the 
charge, to the troops at West Point only, and that he is 
justifiable in so doing, because, though the boards in the 
first instance might have been designed for the army at 
large, yet as the manner in which they were applied for 
to the quarter-master was agreeable to the custom of 
commandants of West Point, and specified the particular 
purpose for which the boards were intended ; that they 
were sent to the Post on such application and receipted 
for by the officer who received them, to be delivered to 
West Point ; he was warranted in such distribution, 
without a report being made to tlie commanding (ien- 
eral or deputy quarter-master of the Department. 

On the second charge, it appears to the Court that 
General McDougall was justifiable in not reporting the 
escape of the prisoners to General Heath, because the 
provost-marshal of the army was at the Post by order of 
General Heath, whose duty it was to make such report. 

On the third charge, it appears to the Court that Gen- 
eral McDougall did draw orders on the clothing store on 
October 8th, i8th, 19th, 28th. November 7th and loth, 
and an order for Ensign Davis's servant ; and that he is 
justifiable in so doing, because it has been custoiuary and 
was requisite to service, for officers of dififerent grades to 
draw clothing from the clothing store for necessitous 
soldiers, detached issues have been accordingly con- 
stantly made, and there has appeared to the Court no 
orders to the contrary. It does not appear that General 
McDougall drew the other orders mentioned in charge. 

On the fourth charge, the Court are of the opinion 
that General McDougall is justifiable. 

On the fifth charge, it appears that General McDougall 
did order Colonel Crane to deliver arms and accoutre- 
ments on the i6th of January last ; but, as Colonel Crane 
was a member of the garrison, and being senior officer 
of artillery at that time, had the keys of the military 
stores, for the defence of the garrison, and under the or- 



issri'.n AT Ni:\\ lu'Rcii. 51 

(lers of (icncral McDougall, CoiiunaiKlant ihcrcol, the 
Court are of opinion that ( jeneral McDougall was justili- 
able for giving the orders, and for tlirealening to confine 
him for a disobecHence of them ; notwithstanding the 
orders of General Heath of the 4th of Jannary last, rela- 
tive to the grand magazine. 

On the sixth charge, the embarrassments General Mc- 
Dougall labored uncler by the order of Major-general 
Heath of the 4lh of January last, and other orders men- 
tioned in the evidence ; his official rights as command- 
ant of the garrison being thereby invaded ; the maga- 
zine shut against his orders, which disenabled him from 
drawing for the necessary means for its defence in 
case of any emergency ; the garrison officer, through 
whom arms. ammuniti(Mi. etc.. were attainable, refusing 
obedience to his legal orders, and directing no returns to 
be made to Major-general McDougall of the state of the 
magazine, where stores were deposited for its defence, 
are. in the oj^inion of the Court, sufficient to justify Ma- 
jor-general McDougall. in conversing with the field offi- 
cers of the several corps stationed in the garrison, on the 
1 6th of January last, and for the whole of his conversa- 
tion with them at that time. That part of the charge 
bringing in question Major-general Heath's right to 
command the garrison at West Toint. saying that an of- 
ficer was not bound or obliged to obey orders if he 
thought them improper or unmilitary. is not supported. 

On the seventh charge, the Court find that (General 
McDougall did converse before officers of different 
grades, accidentally met at his (juarters on the 7th of 
January last, and did say that (leneral Heath's orders 
were subversive of all good order and discipline, and in- 
jurious from the sentinel to the oldest Major-general in 
the service: that he sent i)rivate commands to Colonel 
Crane, without informing him. (leneral McDougall. for 
the removal of a considerable (|uantity of ammunition 
from the magazine, and that, if such a practice i)revailed 
in the army, it would be in the power of an Arnold, at 
any time, to dismantle and sell the garrison ; and pub- 
licly related some matters that passed at a council of 



52 WASHINGTON S ORDERS 

war at Mrs. McGo win's in 1776, respecting the re- 
treat from New York, and said that none were opposed 
to it but a fool, a knave, and an obstinate honest man, and 
that General Heath was the knave ; and are of the opin- 
ion that the time, the place, the manner of expressing 
what is set forth in the charge, and the persons before 
whom he did express it, renders such a conversation un- 
justifiable, and in breach of article 5th, section i8th of 
the Rules and Articles of War. 

On the last charge, it appears to the Court that the 
bake-house was pulled down on an application from Ma- 
jor-general McDougall to Colonel Hughes, the deputy 
quarter-master, by his direction ; that the other building 
was ordered by General McDougall on the i8th of De- 
cember last, to be pulled down, but was not pulled down 
on that order, but by order of Colonel Pickering, Quar- 
termaster-general, and that the materials were removed 
to West Point ; that General McDougall did erect a 
building for a provost-guard, and made additions to 
the house in which he quartered, but it appeared to the 
Court from a letter introduced in the case that General 
Heath knew and approved the building of the provost 
guard-house; that General McDougall's erecting the 
same was not as is said in the charge, "without the 
knowledge or consent of the commanding General." The 
Court are of opinion that from constant usage the Com- 
mandants of West Point never yet interdicted. General 
McDougall is justifiable in making additions to the house 
in which he quarters. 

The Court, agreeable to their opinion on the several 
charges, do fully acquit Major-general McDougall on the 
I St, 2d, 5th and 6th charges; on the 4th they acquit: on 
the 3d and last charges they fully acquit him, and think 
the charges vexatious ; on the 7th they sentence nim lo 
be reprimanded by the Commander-in-Chief in General 
Order. 

"By the United States in Congress Assembled : 

August 15, 1782. 

"The proceedings and sentences of a General Court-martial on 
the trial of Major-General McDougall having been read, 

"Resolved, That Congress approves the sentence of said Court." 



ISSL'KL) AT xNRWBlKC.II. 53 

It is uitli extreme reluctance the Commander-in-Chief 
finds himself under the necessity of carrying the 7th 
charge into execution ; more especially as it concerns an 
officer of such high rank and generally acknowledged 
merit. The ill consequence arising from a too free cen- 
sure of the conduct of officers of superior, by those of 
inferior rank, are too obvious to need enumerating. The 
Commander-in-Chief cannot, however, help remarking 
particularly upon the impropriet\- of one member of a 
council of war divulging the opinion of another (except 
in cases of criminality which could not fail to be imme- 
diately noticed. ) and undertaking to reflect publicly 
upon him for it. Such liberty, if allowed, would very 
soon tend to prevent an officer of coolness and delibera- 
tion from giving his opinion in favor of cautious meas- 
ures, lest the army, and the world at large, should at- 
tribute his reasons to other than the real motive. 

Major-general McDougall is released from his arrest. 

The General Court-martial which Major-general Howe 
is President of is dissolved. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, August 29, 1782. 
The Honorable the Congress have been pleased to pass 
the following resolve : 

"By the United States in Congress Assembled: 

August 19, 1782. 
"Resolved, That the resohition of the 5th day of October, i7iSo, 
directing a court of inquiry on the conduct of Major-General 
Gates* be repealed, and that he take command in the main army 
as the Commander-in-Chief shall direct." 



HEADQUARTERS. 

Xewbirch, August 29, 1782. 
The order of encami)ment and the order of battle for 



* Horatio Gates, born in X. Y. ; appointed Brigadier-general, 
1775; Major-general Nov. 16, 1776; died in New York April 
ID, 1806. 



54 WASHINGTON S ORDERS 

the main army this campaign will be in line, arranged 
and commanded as follows : 

Right Wing — Major-general Gates. 
First Dizision — Major-general McDongaJl. 
First Brigade, Col. Swift. 

Second Conn. Regt. • 

Fourth Conn. Regt. 

R. Island Regt. 
Second Brigade, Brigadier-general Huntington. 

First Conn. Regt. 

Fifth Conn. Regt. 

Ninth Conn. Regt. 

Second Dk'isioii — Major-general St. Clair. 
First brigade, Col. Courtland. 

First N. Y. Regt. 

Second X. Y. Regt. 
Second Brigade, Col. Dayton. 

First N. Jersey Regt. 

Second N. Jersey Regt. 

Left Wing — Major-general Heath. 
First Division — Major-general Lord Stirling. 
First Brigade, Col. . 

Tenth Alass. Regt. 

First N. Hamp. Regt. 

Second N. Hamp. Regt. 
Second Brigade, Col. Sheppard. 

First Mass. Regt. 

Fourth Mass. Regt. 

Seventh Mass. Regt. 

Second Diiision — Major-goieral Hozce. 
First Brigade, General Patterson. 

Second Mass. Regt. 

Fifth Mass. Regt. 

Eighth Mass. Regt. 
Second Brigade, Col. Greaton. 

Third !Mass. Regt. 

Sixth Mass. Regt. 

Ninth Mass. Regt. 



ISSIKO AT XKWIUKCH. 55 

H 1:^0-0'-" -MM" I'-KS. 

Xi:\\iU'K(;ii, August 30. 1782. 

Precisel}- at 5 o'clock to-morrow morning the (General 
is to beat, on which the tents and baggage of the second 
Connecticut and third Massachusetts brigades are to be 
put in the boats. .\t 9 o'clock the Assembly will beat, 
when these brigades are immediatel}' to march and em- 
bark by the right. ])roceeding in one column to \'er- 
planck's Point in the following order: 1st Conn.. 2d 
Conn.. 1st ]^lass. and 2(1 Mass. Brigades. 

The leading regiment of the ist Connecticut lirigade 
is to advance 200 }ar(ls in front as a vanguard, and de- 
tach one company, which is to keep 100 paces in front of 
it. The boats of each regiment are to keep abreast and 
far enough ajiart to keep from interfering. The compa- 
nies will embark as they are found on the parade, and 
observe that order: the Colonel to be on the right, the 
Lieutenant-colonel on the left, and between each regi- 
ment there is to be a space of 75 yards ; between the bri- 
gades 130 yards: and between the divisions 250 yards. 
The general officers commanding divisions and brigades 
are to be at the head of their respective columns, the 
.\Iajor-general 50 yards, and the l^.rigadier 2^ vards in 
advance of them. 

.\s socMi as the troops have embarked and taken their 
distances ( the van o])posite Little Dick's Ferry or Meigs' 
Redout) the rear brigade will beat March, which will be 
repeated to the front as a i)reparative ; three cannon will 
be fired from the park at West Point, and the column 
will immediately get imder motion, the music of the dif- 
ferent regiments playing alternately if the situation of 
the boats will admit of it. The Inspector of Music will 
regulate the beat. 

If any boat should ])rove too leaky, break its oars, or 
from any other cause is unable to keep the line, it is to 
tin-n out and follow after in such manner as the prudence 
of the officer commanding shall see fit. 

Xo batteaux are to be without a commanding officer 
in them. The general stafif of the army, except the In- 
spector, Adjutant, and Quartermaster-generals (who 



56 Washington's orders 

may assist in preserving order and regularity in the 
movement) and all the baggage which is not in the 
boats with the troops, are to follow at the distance of 
half a mile in the rear, agreeably to the order they may 
receive from the Quartermaster-general. 

Guards, Generals and Staff officers are not to join 
their corps in the movement, but they may assist in trans- 
porting the baggage by water, in order to prevent the 
necessity of wagons. This by no means to be drawn as 
a precedent in future. 

No woman to be admitted into the boats on any pre- 
tence whatever. 

If the boats are insufficient to transport the troops, 
with their baggage, without crowding or overloading, 
the surplusage will march by land under proper officers. 
The soldiers will take care to fill their canteens with wa- 
ter before they embark, as they will have no landing for 
water afterwards. 

The artillery annexed to brigades will proceed by land 
and join their respective corps at Verplanck's Point. 

SK^NALS BV DAY. 

1st. If any brigade or regiment in the rear is unable 
to keep up, the Brigadier commanding it is to be inform- 
ed and will cause a white flag to be hoisted in the boat 
where he is, which will be repeated by every Brigadier 
(and com.) ahead, on which the leading Brigade is to 
move slower. 

2d. If the rear would move faster, the front will be 
notified by a blue flag hoisted and repeated as above. 

3d. For landing, the regimental colors will be hoisted 
by the landing regiment, repeated throughout the line, 
and kept displayed till the landing is effected, and the 
troops get to the ground. 

4th. If a halt should be found necessary on the pas- 
sage by the Commander-in-Chief, or officer at the head 
of the column, it will be communicated by hoisting both 
flags (blue and white) on board of the boats of the 
Brigadiers ahead so as to be distinctly seen, and repeated 
as quick as possible to the rear, upon which the boats will 



ISSUED AT NEWBUKGII. 57 

lay by on their oars, and take great care to preserve their 
place and distance in line. 

SIGNALS BY NIGHT. 

1st. For moving slower, a musket will be fired and re- 
peated by the Brigadiers, as in the day signal. 

2d. For moving faster, two guns in like manner. 

3d. For landing, three ditto. 

4th. For halting, a halt must be called, beginning m 
the front, and repeated from one Colonel to another dis- 
tinctly, three times to the rear, to prevent mistakes and 
the confusion which would consequently follow. 

When the signal for landing is given, the boats are 
to close up without crowding, and row- for the shore, 
and fall in by the left of each other, in which order they 
are to debark at their respective landing places assigned 
to them on the bank, and form in brigade columns as 
usual. In this order, the head of each column will be 
conducted by the Brigade Quarter-master, to the right 
of its encampment, when it will display to the left, and 
each regiment repair to its own camp, stack their arms, 
bring up their tents and baggage, and establish them- 
selves. 

The Quartermaster-general will furnish the command- 
ing officers of brigades with the signal flags, which are 
to be carefully preserved by the brigade quarter-masters. 

The General persuades himself that the officers will 
exert themselves to have the movement made with grand 
order and regularity. 

Major-general Knox will be pleased to direct all the 
board bunks, etc., which have been removed out of the 
barracks, and used by the officers and soldiers to lie 
upon, to be collected this afternoon, anfl disposited safe- 
ty. If any sutler or trader is found purchasing any of 
the foregoing articles from the soldiers, they ma}' de- 
pend upon not only having their licenses taken from 
them, but also be otherwise punished. 

For fatigue at West Point, etc., for seven days, the 
3d Massachusetts Regiment. 



58 Washington's orders 

H E AD-O U ART 1:RS . 

\'i:rplanck's Point, August 31. 1782. 

The Commander-in-Chief cannot help expressing his 
thanks to the officers comman(Hng divisions, brigades 
and corps, and to the Adjutant and Quartermaster-gen- 
erals for their punctual attention to the order of tester- 
day, by which the first considerable movement that has 
been attempted by water was made with the utmost reg- 
ularity and good order. 

The Brigade Quarter-masters will see that the boats 
of their respective brigades are moored at their own 
landings in such a manner as to be perfectly safe in 
all weather — the stakes to which they are fastened must 
be so well driven as to yield to no wind. 

The Quartermaster-general will furnish materials to 
repair the boats, and the Brigade Quarter-masters are 
to see it done immediately by the men in their own bri- 
gades. The rear guard is to have charge of the boats, 
and not to suiYer any of them to be used without orders 
in writing from the Brigade Quarter-master, and coun- 
tersigned by the Brigadier or officer commanding the 
brigade. All persons to whom boats are delivered 
agreeably to these orders, are to be held responsible for 
them. 



[XoTE. — The army moved down the river from Xew 
Windsor, Fishkill, West Point and adjacent positions, 
and encamped at Vcrplanck's f^oint for the purpose of 
receiving and extending a welcome to the allied French 
army, then on the return march from Yorktown, Va., 
to the Eastern States from whence they were to leave 
the country. There was a continual round of festivities 
between the allied camps throughout Sept. 1782. The 
following description of the American camp has recent- 
ly been made public : 

"T found the American army encamped at a place 
called Vcrplanck's Point. It consisted of about six 
thousand men. who, for the first time since the begin- 
ning of the war, were decently uniformed, well armed, 
properly equipped and camped in tents of a regular 



ISSLT.l) AT XKWT.URr.II. 59 

model. All the soldiers seemed to me good looking, ro- 
bust and well chosen. The sentinels were well e(|uipped 
very attentive, sufficiently well disciplined in the use of 
their arms, and strongly in contrast with the incorrect 
notions I had formed concerning these troops. I no- 
ticed a flag on a little hill which overlooked the camp 
and assemblage of tents, which I recognized easily as 
the quarters of (icneral Washington." — Xarratk'C 
Prince dc Broijlic, Sept. ijSj. 

"The .American Camp at X'erplanck's I'oint i)rcsent- 
ed the most beautiful and pictures(|ue ajipearance ; it 
extended along the plain on the neck of land formed 
by the winding of the Hudson, and had a view of this 
river to the southward; behind it the lofty mountains 
covered with wood formed the most sublime back- 
ground that painting can express. In front of the 
tents was a regularly constructed i)ortico, formed by 
the boughs of trees in verdure, decorated with much 
taste and fancy, and each officer's tent was distinguished 
by superior ornaments. Opposite the camp, and on dis- 
tinct eminences, stood the tents of some of the ( ieneral 
officers, over which towered ])redominant that of ( ien- 
eral Washington. The French army was encamped at 
Crompond. 14 miles distant, and from the camp at \'er- 
j)lanck's. the P.ritish evening gun at Kingsl)ri(lge could be 
distinctly heard." — Rochambcau Papers. Oct. ijSj. 

The allied b'rench force broke cam]) on the 22(\, and 
moved eastward preparatory- to embarkation. .\t rev- 
eille on the 26th of ( )ctoj)cr, the left wing* of the 
American army, under command of .Major-general 
Heath, struck their tents and marched from the camp 
at X'erplanck's as far as the wood near the north redoubt 
in the Highlands (now (iarrisons), where thev re- 
mained during the night. The day and night were rainy 
and the troops had no covering but the heavens. The 
next day by half-])ast twelve o'clock, the whole bod\- 



* .-Xs constituted by Order of .August 20. Xo Order lias been 
preserved directing tbe mo\ement of tbe riglit wing, but as troops 
of botb wings were inchided in tlic camp at New Windsor, it is 
inferred that both wings left Vcrplanck's at tb;it time. 



6o Washington's orders , 

had crossed the Hudson in boats to West Point. In 
the afternoon the movement was resumed and the 
troops ascended Butter Hill, a tedious march, and pass- 
ed the night on the northern descent in the open field. 
At 7 o'clock on the following morning the troops were 
again put in motion and reached the ground on which 
they were to build their huts, in New Windsor, at about 
half-past lo o'clock a. m. Upon this ground, and its 
vicinity, the army passed the ensuing winter. — Heath's 
Memoirs. 

James Selkirk, a soldier of the Revolution, wrote a 
narrative of the war in which occurs the following, 
copied from the MSS : 

"This summer (1782) General Washington moved 
the army to Verplanck's Point (to meet the allied French 
army returning from Yorktown). and encamped there. 
Our camp made an elegant appearance. All our tents 
and the officers' marquees were arched in front, and 
finely adorned with laurel, evergreens and boughs of 
other trees. In the fall our camp broke up. We 
moved to West Point and staid there about a week, and 
then marched to Snake Hill, west of Newburgh, and 
built huts for our winter quarters, and so remained 
there until we were discharged. During the winter and 
following spring of 1783, we had only our camp duty 
to do. Genl. Washington ordered a large building to be 
erected for a place of public w'orship, called the Chap- 
el, in which a portion of the dift'crent brigades were 
frequently assembled." 

A few months later Major-general, the Marquis de 
Chastellux, visited Head-quarters, and also the can- 
tonment, of which he has left the following description : 

"On the 5th of December, 1782, we arrived at New- 
burgh, where I found Mr. and Mrs. Washington, Colo- 
nel Tighlman, Colonel Humphreys, and Major Walker. 
The Head-quarters at Newburgh consist of a single 
house, neither vast nor commodious, which is built in 
Dutch fashion. The largest room in it (which was 
the proprietor's parlor for his family, and which Gener- 
al Washington has converted into his dining-room), is 



ISSUED AT NEWIUKGIl. 6 1 

in truth tolerably spacious, but it has seven doors and 
only one window. The chimney, or rather the chimney- 
back is against the wall ; so that there is in fact but one 
vent for the smoke, and the fire is in the room itself. I 
found the company assembled in a small room which 
served by way of a parlor. At nine, supper was served, 
and when the hour of bed-time came, I found that the 
chamber, to which the General conducted me, was the 
very parlor I speak of. wherein he had made them 
place a camp-bed. We assembled at breakfast the next 
morning at ten, during which interval my bed was fold- 
ed up, and my chamber became the sitting-room for the 
whole afternoon ; for American manners do not ad- 
mit of a bed in the room in which company is receiv- 
ed, especially when there are women. The smallness 
of the house, and the difficulty to which 1 saw Mr. and 
Mrs. Washington had put themselves, made me appre- 
hensive lest ^Ir. Rochambcau, who was to set out the 
day after me. by traveling as fast, might arrive on the 
day that I remained there. I resolved therefore to 
send to Fishkill to meet him, with a request that he 
would stay there that night. Nor was my precaution su- 
jx-rfluous, for my express found him already at the 
landing, where he slept and did not join us till the next 
morning when I was setting out. The day I remained 
at Head-quarters was passed either at the table or in 
conversation, (jeneral Hand, Adjutant-general, Col. 
Reed of New Hampshire, and Major Graliam, dined 
with us. On the 7th I took leave of General Washing- 
ton. Col. Tighlman accompanied me on horseback to 
show me the road, and the barracks that serve as winter 
quarters for the American army, which were not (|uite 
finished, though the season was far advanced and the 
cold very severe. They are spacious, healthy and well 
built, and consist in a row of log houses containing two 
chambers, each inhabited by eignt soldiers when com- 
plete, which makes commonly from five to six effectives ; 
a second range of barracks is destined for the non- 
commissioned officers. These barracks are placed in the 
middle of the woods on the slope of the hills and within 



C)2 WASHIXCTOX'S ORDICKS 

reacli of tlie water. As the great object is a healthy and 
convenient situation, the arniv are on several lines not 
exactl}- parallel with each other. But it will appear sin- 
gular in Europe, that these barracks should be built with- 
out a bit of iron, not even nails, which would render the 
work tedious and difficult were not the Americans vcrv 
expert in putting wood together. After viewing the bar- 
racks I regained the high road; but passing before Gen- 
eral Gates' house, the same that General Knox occupied 
in 1780 (see page 43), I stopjied some time to make a 
visit of politeness. Passing Chester and Warwick, I 
continued on to Philadelphia.] 



Hi-:An-(jLAKTi-:K.s, 
Xi:\\ijrKt;ii, Dec. 25, 1782. 
•:■• ■■.■- ■:■ Y\^Q General highly approves the i)ro])osal 
made by the Rev. Dr. Evans* for erecting a Public 
P)uilding and consents to the General and Field offi- 
cers meeting to determine on the situation and plan 
for it. The Dr. therefore requests that those who are 
desirious of promoting so useful a scheme will be 
pleased to meet at ]\Iajor-general Gates" quarters to- 
morrow morning at ten o'clock. 



Head-ol'artkks, 
Newburgh, Dec. 25, 1782. 
* * * 'YhQ badness of the weather having prevent- 
ed the officers assembling this day agreeable to Dr. 
Evans' request of yesterday, Gen. Gates desires they 
meet at his (luarters to-morrow at eleven o'clock 



[XoTE. — The narrative of the construction of the 
building referred to is continued in the Orders of Gen- 

* Israel Evans. He was a native of Pennsylvania; was or- 
dained Chaplain to tlie army in Philadelphia in 1776; from 1779 
to the close of the war was attaclied to the New Hampshire 
Brigade; was ordained pastor of the church in Concord, N. H., 
in 1789; died at Concord in March, 1807. He was an ener- 
getic man, and is said to have enjoyed the favorable regard of 
Washington. 



ISSl-KI) AT XKWIUKCII. (3^ 

eral Gates-the rankin- officer in command of the can- 
eral iitatli— trom which (|uotations are intnxhiced. J 

-MAj()K-(;i:XKKAL C.AIKs' ORDICRS. 

. . January 5. 178^. 

As It ,s expected lliat all the materials for [he Public 
l.uddmg requested in the estimate sent to each ■ 'i- 
jnuMU wdl be collected on the spot by Wednesday n >x 
U upper of the Massachusetts line will atten<l on 

1 iiur.sday mornmg to superintend the work 

Ihe Col. will issue the details agreed upon to the 

eral Order of Wednesday, in which the artificers -nul 
laborers tor the fatigue duty will be partial ar zed V 

aitihcers and tatigue parties in constant employ on the 
ditterent parts until the work is completed, cll Tu 
pers daily return is to be a sufficient authority to le 
Commissary to issue the same • 

^n^^r.^"'T"T'^ri "'" ^''^^'" <leniandsmade 

or nail r ^ ''" ^^' i^'*'" ''^'^'''' '''''' '^»^^^<''^- "'^il-^- 
or nail-rods, iron, and such other aritcles as he can 

conveniently supply for finishing the building 

As this uselul buihling has met with the Entire ai> 
eWarfif, ^'-' ^•-.--<'-i"-Chief and almo y'; 
General field and regimental officer, that haye been ac 
quainted therewith, the General trusts it wi 1 n t neet 
a single dissenting voice or an unwilling hand n 
construction. The shingles provided bv'the d ffere 
regiments agreeable to their particular e;timate are 1 
to be brought to the Building until the time tl ev a e 
^^ anted, which will be signified in public orders. " 

MAJOK-GliXKKAI. (lATK.s' ORDERS. 

J ■ ,, January 9, 178^ 

Lialt "^li^f ib/'^ ^' Massachusetts Regiment. Vnd 
si f m.T~7i n Regiment, are appointed as- 
sistants to Col. Inpper, .Superintendent of the Public 



64 Washington's orders 

Building; they are to be overslaughed from all other 
duty until the Building is finished. 

The following non-commissioned officers and privates 
are to parade at Col. Tupper's quarters in the Massa- 
chusetts line at lo o'clock to-morrow morning. One 
sergeant from each brigade to superintend the carpen- 
ters, two privates from each regiment who are carpen- 
ters, one private from each regiment who is a mason, 
three privates from each regiment to attend the ma- 
sons, and one sergeant and one corporal from each 
wing to superintend the carpenters. The following tools 
are likewise to be furnished* by each regiment and sent 
by their men to-morrow to Col. Tupper's quarters : 

FROM EACH BRIGADE. 

One cross-cut saw, one adz, and as many inch and 
inch-and-a-half augers as can conveniently be spared; 
the masons are also to bring their tools with them. 

FROM EACH REGIMENT. 

Four spades to be brought by the mason's attendants. 
At 9 o'clock to-morrow morning each regiment will fur- 
nish Col. Tupper with one non-commissioned officer and 
twelve privates, with two hand sleds from each regi- 
ment to collect stone for chimneys and underpinning 
for the Public Building. They will be furnished with 
a gill of rum and a half ration on the spot. 



MAJOR-GENERAL GATES ORDERS. 

January 14, 1783. 

Col. Tupper, Superintendent of the Public Building, 
has this morning acquainted the General that the un- 
derpinning thereof is completed, and a great part of 
the timber on the spot framed. The spirit and alacrity 
with which the artificers and laborers press on the work 
convinces the General that nothing is wanting to the 
speedy finishing of the business, but the regiments 
which have hitherto been dilatory in furnishing their 
quota of materials to forthwith perform that service. 

The General's great regard for the whole army com- 
pels him to hope that these regiments will not require 
another hint on the subject. 



ISSUKD AT NEWBURGH. 65 

MAJOR-GENEIiAL GATKS' ORDERS. 

Jcanuary 15, 1783. 

The foreman of the blackstnilhs of each brigade to 
attend at Col. Tupper's quarters to-morrow morning at 
9 o'clock to receive nail-rods and directions how to 
work them up. 



MAJOR-GENERAL GATES ORDERS. 

January 17, 1783. 

On Wednesday afternoon next each regiment is to 
deliver its proportion of shingles to Col. Tupper or his 
assistant at the place where the Public Building is 
erecting ; at the same time and place each regiment will 
deliver eighty ribs of round, straight, split out poles, 
eight feet and a half long, and two and a half inches 
wide at the upper end. For every ten that are good and 
straight, and for every fifty shingles that are well shaved, 
thus delivered, a gill and a half of rum and a ration of 
provisions will be immediately delivered. 



MAJOR-GENERAL GATES ORDERS. 

January 21, 1783. 

On Friday morning each regiment is to deliver at the 
frame of the Public Building 270 laths, split out of 
shingle timber. They are to be exactly four feet long, 
one inch thick upon one e(\ge and not less than one-third 
of an inch on the other edge, and two inches wide. For 
every fifty good laths thus delivered a gill or rum and a 
half of ration of provisions will be delivered. One ac- 
tive sergeant and two men from each regiment to pa- 
rade to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock at the Public 
Building, to complete the filling in the frames ; it is 
computed that two days' work will finish the business, 
for which they will be allowed twenty-two gills of rum 
and twenty-two half rations of provisions for each 
regiment. The masons and their tenders are to parade 
at the Public Building to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. 



66 Washington's orders 

major-general gates' orders. 

January 25. 1783. 
The Brigade Quarter-masters are desired to see that 
the blacksmiths of their respective brigades dehver the 
quantity of nails they were ordered to make to Col. 
Tupper or his assistant at 9 o'clock on Monday morning 
next. 



MAJOR-GENERAL GATES ORDERS. 

January 26, 1783. 
At nine o'clock to-morrow morning each regiment is 
to send five carpenters to the Public Building, includ- 
ing those at present there. As the weather is extreme- 
ly soft and favorable for shingling, it is intended to fin- 
ish that work off hand, therefore the General desires 
that the carpenters may be men who are experts at 
that service. 



MAJOR-GENERAL GATES ORDERS. 

January 29, 1783. 
Such regiments as have not completed their quota of 
shingles, laths and ribs for the Public Building, are 
expected to do it by 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 



general washington s orders. 

Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, January 29, 1783. 
Thursday, the 6th of February, being the anniversary 
of the alliance with France, a feu dc joic will be fired on 
that day in celebration of this auspicious event, by the 
troops of this cantonment ; previous to which they will 
be reviewed by the Commander-in-Chief on their pa- 
rades. The regiments to be under arms precisely at one 
o'clock. The Adjutant-general will give instructions re- 
specting the subsequent dispositions ; and the command- 
ant of artillery will order a sufficient number of car- 
tridges without ball to be issued for the occasion. After 
the fell de joie. the General will be happy to see, not 



ISSUED AT M:W BURGH. 6/ 

only all the officers of the cantonment, but all the gentle- 
men of the army and other gentlemen and ladies who 
can attend with convenience at the new Public Build- 
ing, where a cold collation will be provided. 



MAJOK-GENEI^AL GATES ORDICkS. 

February 4, 1783. 

The carpenters, masons and blacksmiths at present 
employed at the Public Building, are to be excused 
from attending at the general review on Thursday, the 
6th instant. 

Each regiment is to make and deliver to Colonel Tup- 
per or his assistant by 10 o'clock Thursday morning 
four benches, each of the following dimensions, viz: 
eight feet four inches long, eleven inches wide, eighteen 
inches high, with two substantial legs exactly one foot 
from each end, with a supporter in the middle. One 
gill of rum and a half a ration of provisions will be or- 
dered for each bench to those who deliver them in at 
the time appointed, but no reward will be allowed those 
who fail therein. 

Feb. 7. — Lost, yesterday evening, at the Public 
Building, an elegant pair of stirrup irons, silver-plated; 
any person having them in possession, and will deliver 
them to Major Thomas Lansdale, commanding the 
Maryland detachment, will receive four silver dollars 
reward and no questions asked. 



MAJOR-GENERAL GATES' ORDERS. 

February 8. 1783. 

Col. Tupper being permitted to leave camp on fur- 
lough. Lieutenant Nelson, his assistant, is to act as Su- 
perintendent of the Public Building, and orders signed 
by Lieutenent Xelson and all directions given by him 
relating thereto, are to have ecjual force of authority 
with those with which Colonel Tupper was invested. 



68 Washington's orders 

general washington's orders. 

Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, February 15, 1783. 
The New Building being so far nnished as to admit 
the troops to attend pubHc worship therein, after to- 
morrow it is directed that divine service should be per- 
formed there every Sunday by the several chaplains of 
the New Windsor cantonment, in rotation, and in order 
that the different brigades may have an opportunity of 
attending at different hours in the same day, whenever 
the weather and other circumstances will permit (which 
the Brigadier and commandants of brigades must deter- 
mine,) the General recommends that the chaplains 
should in the first place consult the commanding officers 
of their brigades to know what nour will be most con- 
venient and agreeable for attendance ; that they will 
then settle the duty among themselves and report the 
result to the brigadiers and commandants of brigades, 
who are desired to give notice in their orders, and to 
afford every aid and assistance in their power for the 
promotion of that public homage and adoration which 
are due to the Supreme Being who has, through His 
infinite mercy, brought our public calamities and dan- 
gers (in all human probability) very near to a happy 
conclusion. 

general Washington's orders. 

Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, February 28, 1783. 
The generals and commandants of brigades and regi- 
ments are desired to meet the Quartermaster-general at 
II o'clock to-morrow, at the Public Building, to con- 
sult and establish some more particular regulations re- 
specting the sutlers and markets of the army. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, March 6. 1783. 

AFTER ORDERS. 

Two lime-burners from each brigade to be sent to 



ISSUKD AT NEWBUKGH. 69 

the Public Building to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. 
They are to be employed in erecting a kiln and burning 
lime for finishintj the building. 



[NoTK. — This is the last of the fourteen orders relat- 
ing to the construction of the Temple, the "New Build- 
ing," or the Public Building," by which titles it was 
known and recognized. These orders show that the 
building was a frame building, and erected on the appli- 
cation of a clergyman, and that its object was to be 
primarily a house for the worship of Almighty God. It 
was also used for public meetings of various kinds, but 
the legends to the efifcct that it w-as erected for Masonic 
purposes, or for the ])romotion of social enjoyments, 
have no foundation. A large force of workmen from 
the army were employed from January 9th until March 
6th, or later, constructing the building, which, as has 
been represented, w^as done in a very substantial man- 
ner. Alajor-general Heath, who returned to the com- 
mand of the cantonment, on the i6th of April, 1783, 
has left in his Memoirs the following description of 
this notable building : 

"The cantonment, for its nature and kind, was regu- 
lar and beautiful. Upon an eminence the troops erected 
a building, handsomely finished, with a spacious hall, 
sufficient to contain a brigade of troops on Lord's days, 
for public worship, with an orchestra at one end ; the 
vault of the hall was arched ; at each end of the hall 
were two rooms, conveniently situated for the issuing 
of general orders, for the sittings of Boards of Officers, 
court martials, etc., and an office and store for the 
quarter-master and commissary's departments. On the 
top was a cupola and flag-staff, on which a flag was 
hoisted occasionally for signals, etc. In this canton- 
ment the army spent the winter very comfortably, and 
it proved to be their last winter quarters."] 



Head-quartkrs. 
Xkwrurgii, March 11, 1783, 
The Commander-in-Chief having heard that a gen- 



yO WASHINGTON S ORDERS 

eral meeting of the officers of the army was proposed to 
be held this day at the New Building, in an anonymous 
letter which was circulated yesterday by some unknown 
person, conceives (although he is fully persuaded that 
the good sense of the officers would induce them to pay 
very little attention to such an irregular invitation) his 
duty as well as the reputation and true interests of the 
army requires his disapprobation of such disorderly pro- 
ceedings, at the same time he requests the General and 
Field officers with one officer from each company and a 
proper representation from the Staff of the army, will 
assemble at 12 o'clock on Saturday next, at the New 
Building, to hear the report of the Committee of the 
Army to Congress. After mature deliberation they will 
advise what further measures ought to be adopted as 
most rational and best calculated to attain the just and 
important object in view. 

The senior officer in rank present will be pleased to 
preside and report the result of the deliberations to the 
Commander-in-Chief. 



[Note. — The Revolution was now rapidly approaching 
the end, and as the army was expected to disband, much 
apprehension was felt by the officers and soldiers con- 
cerning the adjustment of their accounts and the pros- 
pects of a gloomy future. A committee from the army 
had visited Congress in December, and returned with a 
series of most unsatisfactory resolutions passed by that 
body. Dark forebodings and general discontent prevail- 
ed in the ranks. At this juncture an exceedingly able 
and stirring address was circulated through the canton- 
ment, calculated to excite and induce the soldiers to lose 
faith in their cause, and impel them to mutiny.* A copy 
of this address, calling for the "general meeting" re- 
ferred to in the above order, came into Washington's 
possession, upon which he issued the order of March 
nth, wisely resolving to make the meeting official, and 
to guide and control it. 

* See "Newburgh Letters," on subsequent page. 



ISSTKO AT NliW'BURGH. yi 

Tho meeting- was held and fully attended. It was a 
grave occasion. When the assembly had been called to 
order by General dates. Washington stepped forward 
and delivered the well-known masterly-written address, 
which chained their attention, in language clear and 
compact, mild yet severe, elevated and dignified, and 
withal so loyal to patriot principles, that the whole mu- 
tinous scheme was overthrown in the deliberative con- 
ference which followed. More than forty years trans- 
pired before it was ascertained that the author of the 
incendiary address was Major John Armstrong, an aid 
to General Gates.] 



HliAD-QUARTIiRS. 

Newburgh, March 13, 1783. 

At the General Court-martial of which Colonel Mich- 
ael Jackson is President, Sergeant John Blaisdell of Cap- 
tain Frye's company in the Hampshire Regiment, charged 
with breaking open the clothing store at Newburgh in 
the night of the 7th inst., and stealing from thence a 
number of boots and shoes; and Moses Lee, a soldier in 
Captain Cushing's company. First Massachtisetts Regi- 
ment, charged with assisting in and conniving at the 
above mentioned theft, being on duty as a sentinel, at 
the same time was tried. 

The Court find Sergeant Blaisdell guilty of breaking 
open the clothing store and stealing shoes from thence. 
The prisoner Lee not guilty. The Court sentence Ser- 
geant Blaisdell to be reduced to a private sentinel, and to 
receive twenty-five lashes on his naked back each morn- 
ing for four mornings successively, amounting in the 
whole to one hundred lashes, his crime being in breach 
of article 3d, section 10 of the Articles of War. 

The Commander-in-C"hief approves the foregoing sen- 
tences, and orders that Sergeant Blaisdell receive his 
punishment in the different Hues of the army of this 
cantonment, viz : twenty-five in the York, twenty-five in 
the Jersey, and twenty-five in the Massachusetts lines. 



'j2. washington s orders 

Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, March i8, 1783. 

The Commander-in-Chief is highly satisfied with the 
report of the proceedings of the officers assembled on 
the 15th instant, in obedience to the orders of the nth. 
He begs his inability to communicate an adequate idea 
of the pleasing feelings which have been excited in his 
breast by the afifectionate sentiments expressed toward 
him on that occasion, may be considered as an apology 
for his silence. 

The original papers being too prolix to be inserted in 
the records of the army, will be lodged at the orderly of- 
fice, to be perused or copied by any gentleman of the 
army who may think proper. 



Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, Saturday, March 22, 1783. 

In justice to the zeal and ability of the chaplains, as 
well as to his own feelings, the Commander-in-Chief 
thinks it a duty to declare that the regularity and deco- 
rum with which divine service is performed every Sun- 
day will reflect great credit on the army in general, tend 
to improve the morals, and at the same time increase 
the happiness of the soldiery, and must afford the most 
pure, rational entertainment for every serious and well- 
disposed mind. 

No fatigue, except on extra occasions, nor general re- 
view or inspection to be permitted on the Sabbath day. 

A packet-boat will set out from the Continental dock 
at Nevvburgh to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock for West 
Point, and will leave West Point at 4 o'clock in the after- 
noon. This packet will continue to ply between those 
places, and will leave there daily on the hours above- 
mentioned. 



Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, March 24, 1783. 
It is recommended to the troops to make regimental 
gardens, for the purpose of raising greens, and vegeta- 



ISSUED AT NKWHURGH. 73 

bles for their own use ; and in order to collect a suffi- 
cient quantity of seeds, commanding officers of regi- 
ments will give passes to as many trusty soldiers as they 
may judge necessary, to go into the country and to be 
absent not exceeding ten days. 

The General hopes he shall see a suitable attention be- 
stowed on an article which will contribute so much to 
the comfort and health of the troops. He even flatters 
himself it will become a matter of amusement and of 
emulation. 

The Quartermaster-general is also directed to adver- 
tise in the newspapers, giving proper invitations and en- 
couragement to those who may be disposed to send or 
bring in garden seeds of all kinds to his office, which 
will be eciuitably divided and faithfully applied to the 
use of the soldierv. 



Head-ouartkrs. 
Newbukgh, Friday, March 28, 1783. 
Although the public despatches from our Commission- 
ers in Europe have not arrived, and the Commander-in- 
Chief has it not in his power to announce officially a 
general peace to the army, yet he cannot resist the pleas- 
ure of communicating the happiness he experiences from 
a certainty of that event; and for the satisfaction of 
every brave officer and soldier under his command, he 
orders the following extract of a letter from his Excel- 
lency the Minister of France to be made public : 

"Philadelphia, Marcli 24, 1783. 

Sir: It is with the most lively and sincere joy that I have the 
honor to inform your Excellency of the conchision of a peace. 
It crowns in the most happy manner your labors and efforts of 
the United States. You will sincerely participate in the com- 
plete satisfaction that this event gives me, and I take the greatest 
possible share in the pleasures it will afford you. 

I have not yet received the news officially, but it is not the less 
certain, and I pray you to permit me to extend to the officers 
of your army and all the American troops my congratulations 
and the tribute of respect due to their virtue and courage." 

Also, the subsequent extract of a letter ot the same 



74 WASHINGTON S ORDERS 

date from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is ordered to 
be communicated : 

"Dear Sir : You will by this Express receive the most agree- 
able intelligence of peace, upon which I most sincerely congratu- 
late you and the army." 

In tliis state of affairs the Commander-in-Chief is 
pleased to direct that all military arrangements shall 
continue the same as at present until further orders ; 
that no relaxation in the discipline or police of the army 
shall be suffered, and that the greatest attention shall 
be paid to the good order and appearance of the troops. 



Head-ouarteks. 
Newburgh, March 29, 1783. 
Parole — America. 

Countersign — Triumphant — Happy. 
The Commander-in-Chief has the pleasure to lay be- 
fore the army an extract of a letter he has received 
(since the publication of the Orders of yesterday) from 
his Excellency the President of Congress : 

"Philadelphia, March 22,, 1783. 

9 o'clock, p. M. 

Sir: Your Excellency will give me the utmost credit when I 
assure you that it is with the most unfeigned joy that I congrat- 
ulate your Excellency and the whole army on the confirmation 
of the signing of the definite treaty of peace, by all the bel- 
ligerant powers, on the 2ist of January. This happy event has 
been announced by an Express from on board a sloop-of-war in 
the river, despatched by the Count D'Estaing and the Marquis 
D'Lafayette from Cadiz, on the 14th of February, in hopes that 
she might arrive before those sent from France and Britain. 

These are not official dispatches, but as there can be no doubt 
of the event, I thought it to be of the highest consequence to give 
your Excellency and my fellow-citizens of the army the earliest 
notice of this glorious end of all their toils and labors. 

I duly received your Excellency's letters by the Express con- 
taining the proceedings of the army, which gave Congress and 
every friend to the army the highest satisfaction. 

The commutation of half-pay was passed yesterday by nine 
States in Congress, which adds greatly to the general joy. 

For the further gratification of the gentlemen of the 
army, a printed paper is left at the Orderly Office, con- 



ISSUKH AT NKWBITKGII. 75 

taining the declaration of his Excellency the Minister 
of France, in conse(|uence of the Orders to the Cheva- 
lier de Luzerne. 



Hkad-qi;arti".us. 
Xn:\VBUKGn, March 31, 1783. 

The conimandins^- officer on the lines will order one 
company to relieve the detachment from Hazcn's Regi- 
ment at the Ulock House at Dobb's Ferry. The officer 
commanding the company posted at the Block House 
will take his orders from Lieutenant-colonel Smith. 

Mcinoraudniii. — Some papers directed to Lieutenant- 
colonel and Major 1 barber, were lost on the road from 
Head-ciuarters towards Little Britain. Whoever may 
have found them will greatly oblige Major Barber to in- 
close them to him at the Jersey Camp, as they can be of 
no use to any other person.* 



Hkau-oiartkrs. 
XicwRURC.ii. Tuesday. A])ril i, 1783. 

The following principles being adopted in the settle- 
ment now commencing with the army, it is desired that 
they be attended to by the officers concerned, viz: 

First. — The accounts to be made out regimentally and 
include every officer and soldier, except those mentioned 
in the third and fourth articles following, for the time he 
actually belonged to the regiment. The transfer of offi- 
cers or soldiers from one regiment to another is to be 
noticed in the rolls, and the pay accordingly to cease in 
the one regiment and commence in the other. 

Second. — Three regimental rolls to be made out, one to 
include the time from June ist, 1778, to August ist, 1780. 
one from August ist, 1780, to January ist, 1782, ana tne 
other for the year 1782, which are to be signed by the 

'■'' Lieutenant-coloiicl Francis Barlicr was killed by the falling 
of a tree, on the day of the celebration of the cessation of hostili- 
ties, April 19, 1783. — He was one of the most accomplished ofifi- 
ccrs in the service. His remains were interred in the cemetery 
of Goodwill Church, Montgomery, and a monument erected there 
to his memory. 



76 Washington's orders 

Paymaster and officer who commanded the regiment as 
far as it can be done. 

Third. — The officers who have been prisoners to be 
settled with for the time they were prisoners individually 
and not in the regiments. 

Fourth. — Regimental officers, while they acted in the 
Staff of the army, are also to be settled with individual- 
ly on certificates from the heads of the departments in 
which they served. 

Fifth. — The officers and men of the Commander-in- 
Chief's Guard to be settled with in their respective lines 
and regiments. 



Head-quarters. 
Newburgh, Monday, April 14, 1783. 
The levees are to commence to-morrow at the Public 
Building, and to be attended daily at 12 o'clock, on the 
principles pointed out in the Orders of the 5th July, 
1 78 1, and the 5th of September, 1782, in addition to 
which the Commander-in-Chief directs it to be signified 
to the army that it will be agreeable to him for all officers 
not on duty or particularly engaged, to attend as fre- 
quently as they can make it convenient. 

AFTER ORDERS. 

The regiments that have not turned and repaired their 
coats, are to draw lots for the scarlet cloth which arrived 
yesterday. Such corps as cannot now be supplied, must 
retain their old uniforms. Everything that can be done 
previous to the ist of May, to make the troops appear 
respectable, ought to be attempted. An extra allowance 
of one ration per coat will be made for every regimental 
coat that has or shall be returned. 

The Paymasters of regiments which have not begun 
to repair their coats with their former facings, and wish 
for a proportion of scarlet cloth will attend at the cloth- 
ing store in Newburgh to-morrow, at 9 o'clock, A. M., 
that a distribution may take place immediately after the 
lots are drawn. 



ISSUED AT XKWBURGII. yj 

Head-quauters^ 
Newburgh, April 15, 1783. 

Jeremiah Allen, a drummer of the Eighth Massachu- 
setts regiment, was tried by a General Court-martial 
for stealing a number of shirts and blankets out of the 
public store at Newburgh on the night of the 24th of 
■March last, convicted and sentenced to receive one hun- 
dred lashes on his naked breech, to be inflicted at four 
different periods, twenty-five at each period : fifty in 
front of the Second, twenty-five in front of the First, 
and the remaining twenty-five in front of the Third Mas- 
sachusetts Brigades. 

The General approves the sentence, and directs it to 
be carried into execution. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, April 16, 1783. 

In the absence of Major-general Gates, Major-general 
Heath will take the immediate command of the army in 
this cantonment. 

Ofiicers of each State Line and every other description 
of oflficers imder the immediate orders of the Comman- 
der-in-Chief who are called upon to signify their accept- 
ance or refusal of the commutation offered by Congress 
in the Act of the 23d of March, 1783, will make their 
election thereon, and report the same through the senior 
officer or head of the department on the 25th of April. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, April 17, 1783. 
A Board of Officers, consisting of Brigadier-general 
Greaton, Colonels Stewart and Sproat, and Majors Fish* 
and Trescott, will assemble at the New Building on Sat- 
urday next, 10 o'clock a. m., to take into consideration 

* Nicholas Fish was the father of Hon. Hamilton Fish, of 
New York. He was born in New York in 1758; was educated 
at the College of New Jersey; studied law under John Morin 
Scott and subsequently entered the Revolutionary army as his 
Aid. At the close of the war he was a Lieutenant-Colonel. 



/S Washington's orders 

the claims of the candidates for the badge of merit, and 
will report thereon to the Commander as soon as possi- 
ble. The papers at the orderly office and all other cer- 
tificates and papers relative to these claims are to be put 
into the hands of Brigadier-general Greaton before Sat- 
urday. 

The West Point packet-boat for the army is now es- 
tablished. She will leave West Point at lo o'clock in the 
morning and Newburgh at 5 in the afternoon. 



Head-ouar'iers, 
Newburgh, April 18, 1783. 

The Commander-in-Chief orders the cessation of hos- 
tilities, between the United States and the King of Great 
Britain, to be publicly proclaimed to-morrow at twelve 
at the New Building; and that the Proclamation, which 
will be communicated herewith, be read to-morrow eve- 
ning at the head of every regiment and corps of the 
army; after which the Chaplains with the several brig- 
ades will render thanks to Almighty God for all His 
mercies, particularly for His overruling the wrath of 
man to His glory, and causing the rage of war to cease 
among the nations. 

Although the Proclamation before alluded to extends 
only to the prohibition of hostilities, and not to the an- 
nunciation of a general peace, yet it must afford the 
most rational and sincere satisfaction to every benevo- 
lent mind, as it puts a period to a long and doubtful 
contest, stops the effusion of human blood, and opens 
the prospect to a more splendid scene, and, like another 
Morning Star, promises the approach of a brighter day 
than has hitherto illuminated the Western Hemisphere. 
On such a happy day, which is the harbinger of peace, 
a day which completes the eighth year of the war, it 
would be ingratitude not to rejoice; it would be insensi- 
bility not to participate in the general festivity. 

The Commander-in-Chief, far from endeavoring to 
stifle the feelings of joy in his own bosom, offers his 
most cordial congratulations on the occasion to all the 
officers of every denomination, to all the troops of the 



ISSUED AT XRWBLTKGll. 79 

United States in general, and in particular to those gal- 
lant and ])ersevering men who had resolved to defend the 
rights of their invaded country so long as the war should 
continue. For these are the men who ought to be con- 
sidered as the pride and boast of the American army, 
and who. crowned with well-earned laurels, may soon 
withdraw fr(»m the field of glory to the mora tranc|uil 
walks of civilized life. 

While the General recollects the almost infinite variety 
of scenes through which we have passed, with a mix- 
ture of pleasure, astonishment and gratitude ; while he 
contemplates the prospect before us with rapture, he 
cannot help wishing that all the brave men ( of whatever 
condition they may be, who have shared in the toils and 
dangers of effecting this glorious revolution, of rescuing 
millions from the hand of oppression, and of laying the 
foundation of a great empire, might be impressed with a 
proper idea of the dignified part they have been called 
to act (under the smiles of Providence) on the stage of 
human affairs. For, happy, thrice happy, shall they be 
pronounced hereafter, who have contributed anything, 
who have performed the meanest office, in erecting this 
stupendous fabric of freedom and empire on the brcuul 
basis of independency ; who have assisted in protecting 
the rights of human nature, and establishing an asylum 
for the poor and oppressed of all nations and religions. 

The glorious task for which we first flew to arms being 
thus accomplished ; the liberties of our country being 
fully acknowledged and firmly secured by the smiles of 
Heaven on the purity of our cause, and the honest exer- 
tions of a feeble people determined to be free, against a 
powerful nation disposed to oppress them ; and the char- 
acter of those who have persevered through every ex- 
tremity of hardshi]), suffering and danger, being immor- 
talized by the illustrious appellation of the Patriot .-Iriiiy, 
nothing now remains but for the actors of this mighty 
scene to preserve a perfect unvarying consistency of 
character through the very last act, to close the drama 
with applause, and to retire from the military theater 
with the same approbation of angels and men which has 



8o Washington's orders 

crowned all their former virtuous actions. For this pur- 
pose no disorder or Hcentiousness must be tolerated. 
Every considerate and well-disposed soldier must re- 
member it will be absolutely necessary to wait with pa- 
tience until peace shall be declared, or Congress shall 
be enabled to take proper measures for the security of 
the public stores. As soon as these arrangements shall 
be made, the General is confident there will be no delay 
in discharging, with every mark of distinction and honor, 
all the men enlisted for the war, who will then have 
faithfully performed their engagements with the public. 
The General has already interested himself in their be- 
half, and he thinks he need not repeat the assurance of 
his disposition to be useful to them on the present and 
every other proper occasion. In the meantime he is de- 
termined that no military neglects or excesses shall go 
unpunished while he retains the commmand of the army. 

The Adjutant-general will have such working-parties 
detailed to assist in making the preparation for a gene- 
ral rejoicing as the Chief-engineer, with the army, shall 
call for ; and the Quartermaster-general will also fur- 
nish such materials as he may want. The Quartermas- 
ter-general will, without delay, procure such a number 
of discharges to be printed as will be sufficient for all 
the men enlisted for the war ; he will please apply to 
Head-quarters for the form. 

An extra ration of liquor to be issued to every man to- 
morrow, to drink perpetual peace, independence and 
happiness to the United States of America. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, April 19, 1783. 
To erect a frame for an illumination, the several corps 
in this cantonment are to square and deliver at the New 
Building, on Monday next, the following pieces of tim- 
ber, viz : 

Pieces Ft- long In. sq 

Maryland Detachment 2 30 7 

Jersey Regiment 5 30 7 

Jersey Battalion 2 30 7 



ISSUED AT XKWBUKGH. OI 

Pieces Ft- long In. sq- 

First York Regiment 2 30 7 

Second York Regiment 3 30 7 

Hampshire Regiment 8 18 7 

Hampshire Battahon 3 18 7 

First Massachusetts Regiment 9 18 7 

4th " " 8 18 7 

7th " " .^4 19 7 

^ I 4 18 7 
2d " " 8 19 7 

cth " " » 4 19 7 

^ / 8 8 7 

8th •• " 16 8 7 

j 2 14 7 

3*1 " " - 3 12 7 

( 6 II 7 

Each commancHng officer of a brigade is requested to 
appoint an officer to assist Colonel Gouvion in making 
preparations for the illumination. Colonel Gouvion* will 
meet the officers so appointed at 12 o'clock to-morrow at 
the New Buildinsr. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, April 27, 1783. 

The Board appointed to take into consideration the 
claims of the candidates for the badge of merit, report, 
that Sergeant Churchill, of the Second Regiment of Light 
Dragoons, and Sergeant Brown, of the late Fifth Con- 
necticut Regiment, are, in their opinion, severally en- 
titled to the badge of merit, and do therefore recommend 
them to his Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief, as suit- 
able characters for that honorary distinction. 

The Commander-in-Chief is pleased to order the be- 
fore-named Sergeant Elijah Churchill, of the Second 
Regiment of Light Dragoons, and Sergeant Brown, of 
the late Fifth Connecticut Regiment, to be each of them 

* Jean Baptiste Gouvion; born in France; came with Lafay- 
ette; appointed Major of Engineers July 8, 1777; Brevet Colonel 
Nov. 16, 1781 ; returned to France ; died 1700. 



82 Washington's orders 

invested with the badge of merit. They will call at 
Head-quarters on the third of May, when the necessary 
certificates and badges will be ready for them. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, Tuesday, May i, 1783. 
The Honorable the Congress have been pleased to pass 
the following resolves : 

"By the United States in Congress Assembled : 

April 23, 1783. 

"Resolved, That in the opinion of Congress the time of the men 
engaged to serve during the war does not expire until the ratifi- 
cation of the definitive treaty of peace. 

"That such of the non-commissioned officers and private sol- 
diers of the above description as continue in service to that 
period shall be allowed their firearms and accoutrements as an 
e.xtra reward for their long and faithful services." 



MAJOR-GENERAL HEATH S ORDERS. 

May 3, 1783. 

The field and commissioned officers of the Massachu- 
setts Line are desired to meet at the new Public Build- 
ing, on Monday next, at 10 o'clock a. m., to elect one of 
their nttmber to meet the general officers and such dele- 
gates as may be chosen by the other lines, on Tuesday 
next, at 10 o'clock a. m., at the above-mentioned place, 
for the purpose of considering the expediency of the of- 
ficers of the army forming themselves into a military 
society. The eldest officer of the line present will please 
to preside and report. 

[Note. — This was the first step toward forming "The 
Society of the Cincinnati," which exists and perpetuates 
to-day, through the descendants of its members, the 
patriotism of its original founders.] 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, May 21, 1783. 
The contractors and sutlers of the army are not to sell 
any rum or other spiritous liquors to the troops unless 
the person applying therefor produce a written permis- 



ISSUED AT Xi:\VBUKGll. 83 

sion specifying tlic (|uantity and signed by a commis- 
sioned officer. 

The General thinks it necessary to caution the soldiers 
against the foolish practice which he is informed has 
prevailed in some instances, of disposing of their notes 
and securities of pay at a very great discount, when it is 
evident the speculators in those securities must here- 
after obtain the full amount of their nominal value. He 
also wishes that any instances which shall be discovered 
of fraud or unfairness in the dealings of sutlers or trad- 
ers might be reported in writing to the orderly office, in 
order that measures should be taken to remedy all abuses 
of that kind. 



HEAD-niAKT[^I<S. 

Xkwdukcii, June 2, 1783. 
The Honorable the Congress have been pleased to pass 
the following resolve : 

'"By the United St.\tes in Congress Assembled: 
"On motion, 

"Re.solved, Tliat tlic Conimander-in-Chief be instructed to 
grant furloughs to tlie non-commissioned officers and soldiers 
in the service of the United States enlisted to serve during the 
war, who shall be discharged as soon as the detinitive treaty of 
peace is concluded, together with a proportional number of com- 
missioned officers of the different grades, and that the Secretary 
of War and Commander-in-Chief take the proper measures for 
conducting those troops to their respective homes, in such a 
manner as may be most convenient to themselves, and the 
States through which they may pass, and that the men thus 
furloughed be allowed to take their arms with them." 

In consecjuence of the ])receding resolution, colonels 
and commanders of corps will immediately make return 
of the number of men who will be entitled to furloughs, 
to the commanding officers of the several State Lines, 
who will make report thereof to Head-quarters. At the 
saiiie time returns are to be made of the non-commis- 
sioned officers and privates who will not be included in 
the above description. These returns must be made to 
comport with the muster rolls, with which they will be 
compared at the Inspection office. 



84 Washington's orders 

A sufiicient number of officers of the several grades to 
command the troops who will remain in the field must 
continue with them. They are requested to make this a 
matter of agreement among themselves ; the command- 
ing officers of Lines will superintend and endeavor to 
accommodate the business to the satisfaction of all con- 
cerned. 

The Paymasters of regiments, and such other officers 
in each as may be appointed to act as regimental agents 
for the occasion, will also remain with the army to aid 
in the settlement of accounts. The Paymaster and agent 
having attended the completion of the business, will 
distribute the result of the settlement agreeably to the 
instructions they may receive from the officers of the 
corps. The Quartermaster-general will have a sufficient 
number of printed furloughs provided as soon as they 
may be. 

The Commander-in-Chief wishes to give every facility 
in his power toward carrying the proposed measures into 
effect with as great convenience ancl satisfaction to the 
troops as possible ; for this purpose the contractors are 
directed to lay up adequate supplies of provision at the 
several posts and places on the route where it will be 
necessary. 

Generals and commanding officers of Lines will be 
pleased to make the interior arrangements for marching 
the troops of their respective States to then- homes ; they 
will receive further instructions on the subject. 

The Commander-in-Chief is pleased to grant a full and 
free pardon to all non-commissioned officers and pri- 
vates now in confinement, and they are to be liberated 
accordingly. 

[Note. — This resolution was in accordance with the 
earnest recommendation of Washington in his letter to 
the President of Congress on the i8th of April. It was a 
judicious method of disbanding the army gradually, 
without entirely losing the hold of the Congress upon 
the soldiers before the definitive treaty of peace should 
be ratified by both Governments. As that was done not 
long afterwards, these furloughs amounted to absolute 
and final discharges.] 



issued at newbukgil. 85 

Hkad-ouarters. 
Newuukgii, June 5, 1783. 

The Paymasters or agents of regiments, as soon as 
they have finished the accounts of tlieir own corps, are 
requested to attach themselves to the Paymaster-gene- 
ral, if they can make it convenient, and to assist in com- 
pleting the general settlement as soon as possible. The 
Commander-in-Chief repeats his wish that the greatest 
dispatch may be used in effecting this business. 

The Surgeons of the dift'erent corps who are fur- 
loughed, before they march, will return their medicine- 
chests and what instruments they have belonging to the 
United States, into the apothecary's store at New Wind- 
sor. All non-commissioned officers and soldiers who 
have money due to them for services in the Quartermas- 
ter-general's department will lodge the certificates there- 
on in the hands of their Paymasters, who will settle for 
the same. The Paymasters are requested to receive 
them. 



Head-quarters. 
Xewburgh, June 6, 1783. 

The commanding officers of State Lines will be pleased 
to see that all detachments of men going on furlough in 
consequence of the orders of the 2d instant are properly 
officered ; it will then be at the option of the remainder 
(except those who may be attached to the corps of three 
years men) to remain with the army or not, as may be 
most convenient. All non-commissioned officers and 
privates enlisted for the war, who may not wish to avail 
themselves of the furloughs directed to be granted by 
the resolution of Congress of the 25th of May, will report 
themselves to the commanding officers of their corps by 
12 o'clock to-morrow, that an equal number of men en- 
gaged for three years may have the indulgence in their 
room. 

The men enlisted for the war who remain with the 
army under this Order are to continue to do the duty 
of soldiers until the ratification of the definitive treaty 
of peace. 



iSb WASHINGTON S ORDERS 

One sub, three sergeants, three corporals, two drums, 
and fifes, and thirty privates, to relieve the Commander- 
in-Chief's Guard,* and to parade at the Xcw Building to- 
morrow morning at 12 o'clock. They will be taken from 
the three years men in the Massachusetts Line, in the 
following proportions : 

Sub. Sergt. Corp. Dr. Fi. Priv- 

First Brigade i i 1 1 i 10 

Second Brigade i i i 10 

Third Brigade 11 i 10 



Head-quarters. 
Xewburgh, Tuesday, June 8, 1783. 

Sergeant Bissell, of the Second Connecticut Regiment, 
having performed some important services within the 
immediate knowledge of the Commander-in-Chief, in 
which the fidelity, perseverance and good sense of the 
said Sergeant Bissell were conspicuously manifested, it 
is therefore ordered that he be honored wuth the badge 
of merit. He will call at Head-quarters on Tuesday 
next for the insignia and certificate to which he is here- 
by entitled. A Board of officers will assemble at the 
Public Building on Tuesday next, at 10 o'clock a. m., to 
decide upon such pretensions to the badge of merit as 
shall be exhibited to them. 

Major-general Knox and Brigadier-general Putnam,** 
with the Director of Military Hospitals, and chief Phy- 
sician to the army, will constitute a Board, on Tuesday 
next, at West Point, for a particular inspection of inva- 
lids, to inquire into the circumstances of every individ- 
ual with respect to the time and season of his transfer- 
ence, the cause and degree of the inability under which 
he now labors. 



* The Commander-in-Chief's Guard, having been composed of 
men who had been selected from the several regiments, were en- 
titled to furlough with their original commands. The organiza- 
tion as it had previously existed probably ceased at this time. 

** Rufus Putnam, born at Sutton, Mass., April g. 1738; ap- 
pointed a Colonel of Engineers Aug. 11, 1776; transferred to 
command Fifth Mass. Regiment Dec. 8, 1776; Brigadier-general 
Jan. 8, 1783; resigned Feb. 15, 1783; died in ^^lassachusetts, 1784. 



ISSri-lI) AT NEWBURGH. 87 

The I'.oard will be pleased to report the state of facts, 
with their opinions thereon, that each may be considered 
as his case shall be thought deservins:. 



Head-quarters, 
Xewburgh, June 9, 1783. 
In consequence of the orders of yesterday, the Board 
whereof Brigadier-general (ireaton* is President, will 
assemble at tlie New P>uilding to-morrow at 10 o'clock, 
to decide on the claims of the candidates for the badges 
of merit. 



He.\d-quarters, 
Xewbirgh, June 10, 1783. 
To-morrow morning a vessel will be ready at New- 
burgh, to take on board the baggage of the officers of 
the Massachusetts Line who live eastward of the county 
of Worcester. They are desired to send returns of their 
names, rank, and quantities of baggage to the Quarter- 
master-general at six o'clock this evening. 



Head-q barters, 
Newburgh, June 11, 1783. 

The levees will be discontinued after this day, and the 
Orders will be received and issued in the same manner 
as was formerly practiced. 

As soon as the men engaged for the war shall be fur- 
loughed, and the troops that remain properly formed 
into regiments and corps, Major-general Heath will be 
pleased to report a statement of the formation of the 
troops in the cantonment, in which will be comprehended 
the name and relative rank of the officers regimentally 
digested. Major-general Knox will please do the same 
with respect to the troops under his command. 

* John Greaton, born at Roxl)iiry, Mass., 1741 ; appointed 
Colonel 1775; Brigadier-general January, 1783; died in Massa- 
chusetts 1784. 



5(5 washington s orders 

Head-quarters, 
Nevvburgh, June 14, 1783. 
Such officers as are not attached to any particular 
corps, who may choose to remain in camp in consequence 
of the order of the 6th instant, will be pleased to report 
their names, rank, and the regiment to which they lately 
belonged, to the Adjutant-general by the 17th instant. 
The arrangement of the different corps being fixed, all 
officers not comprehended therein whose baggage re- 
mains to be transported, are to report their names, rank, 
quantities of baggage, and the States, counties and towns 
to which they are destined, to the Quartermaster-gene- 
ral bv to-morrow eveningf. 



Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, June 15, 1783. 

As soon as the furloughing of the officers and men 
who retire from the field in consequence of the resolu- 
tion of Congress published in the orders of the 2d inst., 
is completed, and the incorporation of those who con- 
tinue in service has taken place (in order to prevent ir- 
regularity and confusion) the furloughed officers, non- 
commissioned officers and soldiers are to be discontinued 
on the returns and muster rolls by which they were last 
mustered. 

Regimental returns are to be made to the orderly office 
as soon as the incorporation has taken place. 



Head-q uarters, 
Newburgh, June 20, 1783. 
The troops of this cantonment will march on Monday 
morning, 5 o'clock, by the left. The senior Brigadier on 
the Massachusetts Line will conduct the column over 
Butter Hill to West Point. The baggage with a proper 
escort to go by water. Application for the means of con- 
veyance must previously be made to the Quartermaster- 
general. These corps, with the troops at West Point, 
will compose the garrisons of that post and its dependen- 
cies. Major-general Knox will be pleased to expedite in 



ISSUED AT NE"\VBURGII. 89 

the best manner he is able the building of an arsenal 
and magazines, agreeably to the instructions he hath 
received from the Secretary of War. 

As soon as the troops are collected at West Point, an 
accurate inspection is to take place, in consequence of 
which all non-commissioned officers and privates who 
are incapable of service, except in the corps of invalids, 
are to "be discharged, and the names of all the men 
whose time of service will expire within a month are also 
to be reported to Head-quarters. The Light Infantry of 
the Massachusetts Brigades, the Light Company of the 
Connecticut Regiment, and one company of the New 
Hampshire Battalion will form a corps, to be posted in 
the county of Westchester until further orders, and will 
be commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Hull* and Major 
Sumner. This corps will march on the 22(1 instant to 
relieve the detachment of the late Eighth Massachusetts 
Regiment, now at Mile Square. The commanding offi- 
cer will receive the instructions already given to the of- 
ficer commanding in that district for the government of 
his conduct. 

[Note. — General Knox was left in command of the 
remnant of the Continental Army after the disbandment 
of the "men for the war" by furloughs. He relieved 
General Heath on the 20th of August, 1783, and led the 
troops when they entered the city of New York on the 
25th of November, after the British troops evacutcd 
that city. General Knox remained in command of the 
garrison at West Point until January, 1785.] 



Head-ouarters, 
Newburgii, June 21. 1783. 
\\"hen the army marches from this cantonment, a de- 
tachment is to remain to do the ordinary duties at New- 
burgh, etc. They will be relieved every nine days for 
this duty. The four Hampshire companies will com- 
mence to-morrow. 



* William Hull, born in Connecticut; Captain in Third Conn. 
Regiment; Lieut. -colonel 1779; Brigadier-general, surrendered 
Detroit August. 1812; died in Massachusetts Nov. 29, 1H25. 



90 washington s orders 

Head-quarters, 
Newburgh, Sunday, June 22d, 1783. 
When the troops move off the ground, a Surgeon or 
Mate will remain with the sick of each regiment for a 
day or two. until the huts can be made ready to receive 
them. A sufficient number of Orderly men to take care 
of the sick must also remain with them. 

[XtjTE. — On the i8th of July, Washington proceeded 
up the Hudson to Albany, where he was joined by Gov- 
ernor Clinton and a small party, for the purpose of vis- 
iting the scene of Eurgoyne's surrender, Lake George, 
the Mohawk Valley and other points of interest. After 
a journey of seven hundred and fifty miles, which was 
performed in nineteen days, he returned to Newburgh 
arriving on the afternoon of the 5th of August. In- 
structions were there found awaiting him from Congress 
and requesting his attendance on that bodv at Prince- 
ton, N. J.] 



Head-quarters, 
Xewburgh, August 17, 1783. 

The Commander-in-Chief, having been requested by 
Congress to give his attendance at Princeton, proposes 
to set out for that place to-morrow ; but he expects to 
have the pleasure of seeing the army again before he 
retires to private life. During his absence Major-gene- 
ral Knox will retain command of the troops, and all re- 
ports are to be made to him accordingly. 

[Note. — The foregoing is the last Order issued by 
Washington at Newburgh. He left Newburgh on the 
i8th, stopping at \\'^est Point,* and from thence resum- 

* Officers of the Revolution weighed at West Point, 
August 19th, 1783. — The following memorandum was found in 
the pocket-book of an officer of the JMassachusetts line : 
General Washington, 209 lbs. Col. Michael Jackson, 252 lbs. 
" Lincoln, 224 " " Henry Jackson, 238 " 

" Kno.x, 280 " Lt. Col. Huntington, 232 " 

Huntington, 132 " " Cobb, 186 " 

" Greaton, 166 " " Humphreys, 221 " 

Colonel Swift, 219 " 



ISSUED AT NKVVBURC.n. 



91 



ed his journey ; his temporary hcad-ciuarters being ulti- 
mately established at Rocky Hill, where he issued his 
Farewell Orders, and where he remained until Novem- 
ber, when he returned to West Point. In October, after 
the treaty of peace had been ratified, Congress, by proc- 
lamation, discharged all the soldiers who had been "en- 
listed for the war." The furloughed troops who had 
gone home in June were thus disbanded. The remaining 
men, consisting of a small number who had been enlisted 
for short periods, continued under Washington as the 
nominal commander until Xovembcr 3d, when they were 
formally disbanded. A small force of re-enlisted men 
were retained at West Point for garrison duty, and these 
with such disbanded men and militia as could be brought 
together, marched to New York to take possession of that 
city on its evacuation by the British (Nov. 25), at which 
event Washington was present. In December, Wash- 
ington surrendered his commission to Congress, and thus 
terminated his career in the Continental Army.] 




THE MARTHA WASHINGTON WATCH. 



PRESERVED IN WASHINGTON S HEAD-QUARTERS AT 
XF.WIirRGH. .\. V. 



APPENDIX. 



DISBANDAIENT OF THE ARMY. 

General Heath, in his " Memoirs," gives the following 
circumstantial account of the practical disbandment of 
the army of the Revolution under Washington's Order 
of June 2d ( see page 83 ) : 

June 2D. — The General Orders of the day announced 
that the men engaged for the war should be immediately 
furloughed, with a proportion of the officers. They 
were to be discharged as soon as the definitive treaty ar- 
rived ; they were to be marched home in divisions. — 
Those men that remained engaged for other periods, 
were to be formed into complete corps. The officers to 
agree who should stay, and in cases where they could 
not agree, seniority was to decide. 

June 30. — The Maryland battalion was put under or- 
ders to the southward. 

June 5th. — The Maryland battalion marched from the 
cantonment. 

June 6th. — In the forenoon, the Jersey line marched 
from the cantonment to their own State, where they 
were to be disbanded. The same day, the First New 
York regiment made a present of their standards and 
band to Governor Clinton ; they were escorted to Pough- 
keepsie by the light infantry company of the regiment. 

June 8th. — The men for the war, belonging to the 
Maryland, New York, and New Hampshire lines, having 
marched from the cantonment, a division of the Massa- 
chusetts regiment marched on this day. 

June qth. — A division of the Suffolk and Worcester 
(Mass.) furloughed men marched for their own State, 
and so on, a division each day, until the whole had 
marched. 

June ioth. — Our General (Heath) was General of 
the Day. In the After Orders of the Commander-in- 
Chief on this day, it was expressed — "The strength of the 



DlSBAXI).Mi:-\T OF Till-: AK.MV. 93 

army in this cantonment being considerably diminished 
by the number of men lately furloiighed, the Order of 
the i6th of April, directing a General, Field officers and 
Quarter-master to be of the Day. and also a regiment to 
parade every day for duty, is dispensed with. For the 
present, there will be one Field-officer, and an Adjutant 
of the Day ; and the guards only will form on the grand 
parade at 9 o'clock in the morning." It is here a little 
remarkable, that our General, by whose orders and 
under whose direction the first guard in the American 
war mounted at the foot of Prospect Hill, on the eve- 
ning of the 19th day of April, 1775, after the battle of 
that day. should happen in the course of service, to be 
last General of the Day in the American army, on the 
10th of June, 1783, to inspect, turn off. and visit the 
guards. At the first period, the roads were full of niilitia 
pressing toward Boston, to commence and prosecute a 
dubious war; they were now filled with veteran soldiers, 
covered with laurels, returning from the field to their 
peaceful abodes. 

Juxii iiTH. — About 2 o'clock, r. m., the wind freshen- 
ed from the west ; there were several thunder showers, 
with large hailstones, some of which were supposed to 
be two inches long. The lightning struck the flag-stafif 
of the New Building, entered the house and ran down 
the south side of it, doing some damage and stunning 
several soldiers near the door. In the General Orders 
of this day, it was announced that the levees were to be 
discontinued. 

JuNi-: 13TII. — The men who had enlisted for three years 
and for shorter periods not expired, were formed — those 
belonging to Massachusetts into four regiments. 

June 19x11. — A number of officers of the army, viz: 
Several general officers, and officers commanding regi- 
ments and corps, met at the New Building, and elected 
his Excellency Genl. Washington, President-General ; 
(lenl. McDougall. Treasurer; and Genl. Knox, Secretary, 
pro tempore, to The Society of the Cincinnati. 

Ji'Ni-: 231). — The Massachusetts regiments marched to 
West Point. 

— See \\'ashington's Orders, June 22(1. 23d. 



94 AI'l'i'.NDlX. 



A CENTEX XI AL SAAIPSOX. 

The enlistment of women as soldiers disguised as men, 
is not an unfrequent occurrence, as the records of the 
Rebellion and preceding wars furnish abundant proof ; 
but the career of the subject of the present sketch was 
so difTerent from those usually described as to merit a 
special mention in the American Historical Record^ from 
which the following facts are drawn : 

Deborah Sampson, the daughter of Jonathan and De- 
borah ( Bradford ) Sampson, was born at Plymouth, 
Mass., Dec. 17, 1760. The death of her father when she 
was quite young left her surrounded by kind friends, and 
nothing eventful occurred until she attained the age of 
twenty years. 

In April, 1781, she left home in the night in male ap- 
parel, and at Bellingham, Mass., she enlisted as a Con- 
tinental soldier under the name of Robert ShurtlifTe. — 
She was mustered into service at Worcester, and at the 
end of the month, sent with other recruits to join the 
army at West Point, where she was assigned to Captain 
W^ebb's company. Colonel Shepard's regiment and Gen- 
eral Patterson's brigade. Her height as recorded was 
five feet seven and a half inches: hazel eyes inclining 
to blue. Her equipments were a blue coat, white facing, 
white vest, stockings and breeches strapped at the knee, 
half boots, cockade on cap, plume (white tipped with 
red). She carried a musket, bayonet, knapsack, car- 
tridge-box and thirty cartridges. 

After participating in several engagements she was 
severely wounded in a skirmish with tories in Westches- 
ter county, receiving two wounds, one in the temple and 
the other, a pistol ball in the groin. She was taken to 
the hospital, but concealed the second wound and ex- 
tracted the ball herself. In Philadelphia, before the 
disbanding of the army in 1783. she was seized with a 
fever, and while in the hospital in a supposed dying con- 



A CENTENNIAL SAMI'SOX. 95 

dition, the surgeon, in examining for action of the heart, 
discovered her sex. As Rohert Shurtliffe she was hono- 
rably discharged from the army by (General Knox, and 
received testimonials from Colonels Shepard, Jackson, 
and General Patterson. She had served a full term of 
three years, and her discharge bore testimony for faith- 
ful and soldierlike performance of every duty. She re- 
turned to her home and resumed her apparel and usual 
employment. In the following year (1784) she married 
a young farmer of Sharon, Mass., named Benjamin Gan- 
nett, by whom she had two daughters and one son. The 
son, Captain Earl B. Gannett, died in June, 1845, aged 
fifty-nine years. She obtained a pension for life for her 
services during the Revolution. 

Under a resolution of the Legislature of Alassachu- 
setts, dated January 20, 1792, after reciting her services, 
and declaring that "the said Deborah exhibited an ex- 
"traordinary instance of female heroism by discharg- 
"ing the duties of a faithful, gallant soldier, and at the 
"same time preserved the virtue and chastity of her 
"sex unsuspected and unblemished, and was discharged 
"with a fair and honorable character," the Treasurer of 
the Commonwealth was directed to pay the said Debo- 
rah the sum of thirty-four pounds, with interest from 
October 23. 1783. 

Deborah Gannett died at her home in Sharon, Aj^ril 
2^, iS2/, in her sixty-seventh year, sustaining to the end 
the character of a faithful and exemplary wife and 
mother, a kind neighbor and friend. Under the Act 
of Congress granting pensions to the widows of Revolu- 
ionary soldiers, John Quincy Adams brought the extra- 
ordinary services of Deborah Gannett before Congress, 
and her husband was enrolled on the pension list. Thus 
the widower, Benjamin Gannett, drew his deceased wife's 
pension until his death on January 9, 1837. 



96 APPENDIX. 



A CENTENNIAL MOLLY. 

The exploits of Deborah Sampson, the soldier woman, 
recorded under the title of a "Centennial Sampson," 
seems to have awakened a flood of memories in relation 
to like heroines. While the interest exists which the 
subject has aroused, the case of Captain Molly, who ex- 
hibited a rare instance of affection and courage, should 
not be overlooked. 

Molly's maiden name at the time of her marriage was 
Mary Ludwig. She was employed in the family of 
Brigadier-general Irvine, then residing near Carlisle, 
Pa. Her husband having enlisted as a soldier, and en- 
tered into active service, she was left behind with ready 
assurances from her friends that she would never see 
him again ; but not long afterward she went to the front 
and joined her husband. According to her own story, 
"she had washed and hung out her Monday washing, 
and gone into a field near home to pick blackberries, 
when a man rode rapidly up to General Irvine's house 
and said she must go to her husband at once. Without 
a word, she picked her wet clothes from the line, rolled 
them into a bundle, jumped on the horse behind the 
man, and rode away." 

Molly first appeared in history at the capture of Forts 
Montgomery and Clinton, in October, 1777. 

When the assailing column poured over the parapet of 
Fort Clinton, Molly's husband, who was an artillery- 
man, dropped his port-fire and retreated in confusion, 
but Alolly caught up the burning implement and dis- 
charged the last gun fired by the ill-fated garrison. 

Nine months after, amid the sufifocating heat of the 
memorable July battle at Monmouth, N. J., being then 
only twenty-two years old, Molly remained beside the 
gun her husband was serving, and signalized her devo- 
tion to him by bringing him water from a spring near 
by. A shot from the enemy killed him at his post. Molly 



A ci:.\"ri:NNiAL mollv. 97 

saw her husband fall as she came from the spring. 
She dropped the pitcher and seized the rammer, took 
his place at the gun. and vowed she would avenge his 
death. She performed the duty with a skill and courage 
that attracted the admiration of all who saw her. 

Molly remained with the army, and soon afterward 
General Greene presented her to Washington, who, in 
admiration of her brave conduct, caused her to be ap- 
pointed a Sergeant. Later in her life, she received the 
distinction of Cajitain by brevet, and, on the recom- 
mendation of Washington, her name was placed on the 
half-pay list for life. Notwithstanding this allowance, 
her last days were passed in poverty near West I'oint, 
from which post she continued to draw rations until her 
death. 

It is said the name of Molly I'itcher, by which she has 
sometimes been called, arose from her carrying water to 
the soldiers in that kind of vessel ; but Cai)tain Molly is 
the only name bestowed on her in the records of the 
War Department. The following extracts are taken 
from the "History of West Point." The letters are ad- 
dressed to Major-general Henry Knox, Secretary of 
War. and written by Major (ieorge Fleming, the Com- 
mander at West Point. 

Wkst Point. 7th of October. 1786. 
Sir: I have sent another account of Mrs. Swims for 
taking care of Captain Molly up to the 27th of Septem- 
ber, and have removed her to another place, as I thought 
she was not as well treated as she ought to be. 

Wkst Point, .\])ril 21st, 1787. 

Sir: 1 am informed b\- the woman that takes care of 
Captain M(<lly. that she is much in want of shifts. H 
you think proper to order three or four, I should be verv 
glad. 

Wkst Point. June 12th, 1787. 

Sir: If the shifts which \ou informed me should be 
made for Captain Molley are done, I should be glad to 
have them sent, as she complains much for the want of 
them. 



98 APPENDIX. 

Captain Isaac Faurot, recently deceased at an age past 
ninety years, and a life-resident of Highland Falls, Or- 
ange County, informed the writer that Captain Molly 
died near that village in 1787, and was buried on the 
lands recently owned by Alfred Pell, the grave being vis- 
ible from the road for a long time. 

Molly is described as usualy appearing with an artil- 
lery-man's coat over her skirts. She was brusque, coarse, 
red-haired, wholly wanting in feminine charms, and one 
of her biographers has recorded that she made use of 
— swear words. 



CENTENNIAL PROFANITY. 

Patriotism and profanity are not necessarily related 
to each other, but the latter is not un frequently employ- 
ed to serve as an incentive to valorous exertions, or as a 
vehicle for the outward expression of a form of wickei- 
ness and vulgarity which certain operations of the mind 
inspire. 

The history of the race, both sacred and secular, fur- 
nishes abundant proof of the early existence of soldiers 
and swearers, descending down to and including the 
noble army of patriot fathers who periled and pledged 
their lives and their fortunes to secure the manifold 
blessings which fifty million of freemen now enjoy. — 
Among the many efforts to check this wide-spread evil 
practice, during the period of the Revolution, the fol- 
lowing extracts are presented from a near standpoint : 

By the Commander of Colonel Sherburne's Rhode 
Island Regiment. 
Fort Arnold, 

West Point, May 11, 1778. 
Regimental Order. 

T * * * 

II. Whereas, Profane swearing is prevalent in the 
regiment, which is in every sense dishonorable and dis- 
agreeable, I therefore desire every officer, both commis- 



C I-: X T ]■: N X I A I. l'K( ) FA X 1 T Y . 99 

sioned ami non-conimissioncd, to be vigilant in forbid- 
ding and reprimanding all those that they hear swear- 
ing. All those who will not refrain from this scandalous 
practice when repeatedly requested and forbidden, may 
depend on having the severity of the martial law that is 
pointed against profane swearers, executed on them for 
that daring and vile practice. 

The above order will be read to the men at roll call 
twice, that they may understand it and make no plea of 
ignorance of orders. ABIJAH SAVAGE. 

Captain Commanding Regiment. 

By Brigadicr-ycncral Samuel H. Parsons. 
Head-ol'Akteks, 
Fort Akxoi.d, Wkst Point, June iC\ ^777- 

BrIOADE ORnKRS. 

I. * * * 

II. Decency and good breeding, as well as morality 
and religion, dictate that profane swearing ought to be 
discouraged and rendered disreputable. The General 
flatters himself a single hint will be sufficient on this 
subject to the troo])s whose distinguishing characteristic 
has ever been the most prompt and cheerful obedience 
not only to the orders but to the recommendations of 
the General commanding. 

By the Commander-in-Chief, Genl. George Washington. 

Head-quarters, 
Moore's House, West Point, July 29, 1779. 

General Orders. 

* * * Many and pointed orders have been 

issued against the unmeaning and abominable custom 
of swearing; notwithstanding which, with much regret, 
the General observes that it prevails, if possible, more 
than ever. His feelings are continually wounded by the 
oaths and imprecations of the soldiers whenever he is 
in hearing of them. The name of that being from whose 
bountiful goodness we are permitted to exist and enjoy 
the comforts of life, is incessantly imprecated and pro- 
faned in a manner as wanton as it is shocking. For the 
sake, therefore, of religion, decency and order, the Gen- 



lOO APPENDIX. 

eral hopes and trusts that officers of every rank will use 
their influence and authority to check a vice which is as 
unprofitable as it is wicked and shameful. If officers 
would make it an invariable rule to reprimand, and if 
that does not do, punish soldiers for offenses of this 
kind, it could not fail of having the desired effect. 

[The elegant phraseology in which the last named or- 
der is couched, and the depth of feeling expressed b}- a 
few words in a small space, have rendered the order a 
model during the century which has elapsed since it 
was penned] 



A CEXTEXXIAL P>L'LLET. 

The capture of Forts Montgomery and Clinton, oppo- 
site Anthony's Xose. in the early part of October, 1777. 
by a British land and naval expedition, under the com- 
mand of Major-general Sir Henry Clinton, was a part of 
the British scheme to ascend the Hudson River and pro- 
ceed to the relief of General Burgoyne. who was then 
struggling against the American army under the com- 
mand of Major-general Gates, in the endeavor to open a 
line of communication between Canada and Xew York 
by way of Lake Champlain and the Hudson, and thus 
sever the Eastern from the Middle States. 

The successful assault and destruction of the two forts 
having been accomplished, the elated British command- 
er, on the day following the capture, determined to com- 
municate with Burgoyne, then supposed to be approach- 
ing Albany from the Canadas with his entire force. For 
this purpose General Sir Henry Clinton selected a confi- 
dential messenger named Daniel Taylor, and to him he 
entrusted the following dispatch : 

Fort Montgomery, Oct. 8, 1777. 

"Nous y foici" [here we are] and nothing between us 
but Gates. I sincerely hope this little success of ours 
may facilitate your operations. Tn answer to your let- 
ter of the 28th of September by C. C, I shall only say I 



A ( i:n ri:.\"Ni.\i. iulli:t. loi 

cannot ])rcsunic to order, or even to advise, for reasons 
obvions. 1 lieartily wish you success. 

l''aitlifully yours. H. Clinton. 

(len. lUirgoync. 

This message was written on a piece of tissue paper 
about three inches s(|uare, and enclosed in a liollow case 
of silver about the size of an ordinary cranberry, made 
so neatly as to be separated in the middle by one-lialf 
slipi)ing over a shoulder on the other half, like a com- 
mon wot^den pill-box. This "bullet," as the case has 
been called, was then entrusted to Daniel Taylor, with 
instructions to carry it to General JUirgoyne. and fur- 
ther directed, in case he was captured by the .Americans, 
to swallow it. and thus conceal the eviclence of his mis- 
sion and of his employment as a spy. 

When Forts Montgomery and Clinton were carried by 
assault on the 7th of October, the American garrisons 
under the command of Governor George Clinton were 
dispersed through the moimtains. and reaching a point 
about four miles west of the village of New Windsor, 
since known as Washington S(iuare. (jovernor Clinton 
halted and established his head-quarters at the house 
of Mrs. Falls, and sought to collect his dispersed troojis 
preparatory to proceeding to the defence of Kingston, 
toward which the victorious British were hastening. 
-About noon on the loth of October a man riding rapidly 
ai)])roache(l Governor Clinton's disordered camp. It is 
alleged that he first encountered a party of Americans 
clacl in red coats which had been captured, and that in 
answer to his incjuiries the party said they belonged to 
Clinton's command. However that may be, Daniel Tay- 
lor, the horseman, was deceived, and as he approached 
the camp he replied to the challenge of the sentry, 'T 
am a friend and wish to see (jeneral Clinton." He was 
conducted into the presence of Governor Clinton, where 
he discovered with amazement his fatal mistake. It has 
been said he thought he had fallen on a P)ritish camj), 
and was about to face his employer. General Sir Henr} 
Clinton. r>ut as a "trusty messenger," understanding 
his business, he could not have expected to see the Gen- 



I02 APPENDIX. 

€ral from whom he had parted only a few hours before. 
In the confusion Avhich prevailed he was observed to 
put something in his mouth and swallow it. Suspicion 
was aroused, and Dr. Moses Higby, of Little Britain, 
was summoned. He administered a powerful dose of 
tartar emetic, which brought forth the '"silver bullet." 
"Out of his own mouth" the spy Daniel Taylor was con- 
demned. Hurr\-ing on the march toward Kingston, 
Governor Clinton took the spy along with him to Hur- 
ley, where he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to 
death. While Kingston was blazing from the destroy- 
ing application of British torches, Daniel Taylor, the 
trusty messenger of Major-general Sir Henr}- Clinton. 
Baronet, was hanged upon an apple tree near the old 
church, almost in sight of the burning town. The Amer- 
ican Historical Record states that the "bullet"' and its 
tissue paper messenger were preserved by James Tall- 
madge. who was one of the executors of Governor 
George '" ' : whom it passed into the family of 

De Wiv. n 1858 the bullet and its contents 

were in the possession of Charles A. Clinton, a son of 
De Witt Clinton. Doubtless it i; <':" r^reserved in the 
family, but a place should be :' ;■ it beside the 

Andre papers at -"•--■ - —--. ; ; ;,,^:,y in the collec- 
tion of the Xew Societv. 




THE FALLS HOUSE, LITTLE BRITAIN. 

GOV. CLIXTON'S HEAD-Ql'ARTEK5. 

From Lossing's Field-Book of the Revolution. 






< y 









^ k ^ 



I04 APPENDIX 



WASHINGTON AND WALNUTS. 

The prices of provisions during the Revokition, as in 
war everywhere, rose to extortionate hmits. To meet 
the evil a General Order from the camp at New Wind- 
sor, dated June 30, 1778, called on all the field officers, 
regimental commanders, principals of departments, and 
gentlemen of the army, to assemble and regulate the 
price of the different commodities, and also bind them- 
selves to pay no more than regulation price. The prices 
being thus fixed, "any officer or other gentleman of the 
"army trespassing against these regulations shall be 
"considered unworthy of confidence or respect." The 
regulated list included everything, except beef and fish, 
which is usually consumed for food. Turkeys, $3 ; geese, 
$2; chickens, 50 cents each; potatoes, $1.37 per bushel; 
butter, $1.37; brown sugar, $2; lump sugar, $3; loaf su- 
gar, $5 per pound, are specimen prices established at 
that time, although somewhat swollen by the deprecia- 
tion in the currency on which they were based. In ex- 
change for gold and silver or salt the prices were much 
modified. Indeed salt was sometimes of greater value 
than specie with the country people ; and to obtain it 
they at one time even forced Mrs. Hamilton, Washing- 
ton's house-keeper, to pay in salt for supplies for the 
General's table. The transaction was duly entered by 
Washington in his account with the government, and 
can be referred to by the curious. 

Notwithstanding the difficulties by which he was sur- 
rounded, however, the Commander-in-Chief, (through 
the efforts of Captain Gibbs of the life-guard, who was 
charged with that duty,) from the accounts furnished by 
the French officers in their published narratives, seems 
to have maintained his military household with all the 
dignity which characterized this most illustrious citizen 
and soldier. Major-general the Marquis de Chastellux, 
one of Rochambeau's officers, describing his visit at 
Head-quarters, Preakness, N. J., on the 24th of October, 
1780, states : 



WASIllXGTOX AM) WALNITS I05 

"On our return we found a good dinner ready and 
alK)ut twenty guests sat down, among wliom were Gene- 
rals Howe and St. Clair. The repast consisted of eight 
or ten dishes of meat and poultry, with vegetables of 
many sorts, followed by pastry, pies and puddings. 

"After this the cloth was removed and apples and a 
great quantity of nuts were served, which Genl. Wash- 
ington usually continues eating for two hours, offering 
toasts and conversing all the time. These nuts are small 
and dry, and have so hard a shell ( hickory nuts ) that 
they can only be broken by the hammer, and the com- 
pany are never done picking and eating them. 

"At half-past seven we rose from the table, but in one 
hour I was summoned to supper, against which I pro- 
tested, but to no purpose. The supper consisted of three 
or four light dishes, and above all of a great abundance 
of walnuts, which were as w-ell received in the evening 
as at dinner." 

In the Miujaciiic of American History the narrative of 
the Prince de Hroglie. another of Rochambeau's officers, 
is given. Under date of Se]:)tember, 1782, writing from 
General Head-quarters in camp at X'erplanck's Point, 
it is stated that every day General Washington "has 
"about thirty persons to dinner. He gives good military 
"fare, and is very civil towards all those admitted to his 
"table. It is the moment of the day when he is most 
"cheerful." And adds : 

".\t dessert he eats an enormous (|uantity of walnuts 
and when the conversation is entertaining he keeps eat- 
ing through a couple of hours, from time to time giving 
sundry healths, according to custom. I toasted very 
often with the General, and one occasion I i)ro])osed the 
health of the Mar(|uis de Lafayette, whom he regards as 
his own child. He accepted with a benevolent smile, 
and responded by ])roposing the health of my father 
and my wife. 

"(ieneral \\'ashington ai)peared to me to maintain a 
perfect demeanor towards the officers of his army. He 
treats them with great politeness, but they are far from 
attempting any familiarity with him. All of them, on 
the contrary, exhibit towards their General an air of re- 
spect, of confidence and of admiration." 



Io6 APPENDIX 



THE WEST POINT CHAIN. 

Peter Toii'iiscnd's Letter on the Iron Chain made during 
the War of the Revolution for the Defence of the Hud- 
son at JVest Point. 

New York, March lo, 1845. 

Early in the autumn of 1777, October 6th. Fort Mont- 
gomery, about five miles below West Point, was taken 
by the British. At this point a chain had been thrown 
across the river by the Americans to obstruct the passage 
of the Enemies vessels. It had been made at the Ring- 
wood Furnace, New Jersey, was of small diameter, and 
composed of cold short iron of an inferior quality; and 
upon the surrender of the Fort, fell into the hands of 
the British. 

In the first part of the Winter of 1778 it was resolved 
in Council that West Point was the only site on the Hud- 
son River which was capable of being so fortified as to 
prevent the passage of the enemies fleet, and measures 
were forthwith adopted to put the Point in such state. 

To effect this object it was determined, among other 
things, that a chain should be thrown across the River, 
the links of which were to be double the diameter of 
those in the chain used at Fort Montgomery, and that 
it should be constructed of the very best iron the country 
afforded, and be capable of resisting any force that might 
be brought against it. 

The Honorable Timothy Pickering, one of the most ef- 
ficient and persevering men of the Revolution, was 
charged with the duty of procuring the chain in ques- 
tion. 

My father, Mr. Peter Townsend. of Chester, Orange 
County, was at this time the owner of the Stirling Iron 
Works, situate at Stirling, in said county, in the moun- 
tains at the distance of some 25 miles back from West 
Point. These Works had been in extensive operation 



W F.ST POINT CHAIN" lOJ 

for at least thirty years before tlie Revolution. The iron 
made there had already acquired a deserved celebrity, 
both in this country and in England, which it has re- 
tained to the present day, the Works being still carried 
on by some of Mr. Townsend's lineal descendants. 

To Mr. Townsend. who was an ardent whig and a 
warm friend of this country, application was made by 
Colonel Pickering to make the chain in question. I dis- 
tinctly remember the arrival of Colonel Pickering at my 
father's house in Chester late on a Saturday evening, in 
the fore part of March, 1778. 

His plans were at once warml\' entered into by Mr. 
Townsend. and such was the ardor of the Whigs of those 
days that both Gentlemen left Chester at midnight in 
the midst of a violent snow-storm and rode over to the 
Stirling Works, a distance of fourteen miles, to take 
measures for commencing the work. At daylight on 
Sunday morning Mr. Townsend had all his forges in op- 
eration, and his patriotic workmen engaged upon the 
chain. The work was prosecuted day and night without 
interruption imtil its completion, and was finished in 
six weeks. 

It weighed 140 to 150 tons, was of unsurpassed quality 
of Stirling Iron, and of superior workmanship. It was 
carted to the River by New England teamsters in sec- 
tions as the same were from time to time completed. 
I am very truly yours. 

Pi-:ter Townsend. 




Io8 Al'PENMllX 



THE XEWBURGH LETTERS. 

To the Officers of flic Army. 

Sati'kdav, 8th March. 1783. 

Gentlemen : — A fellow-soldier, whose interest and af- 
fection bind him strongly to you — whose past sufferings 
have been as great, and whose future fortunes may be 
as desperate as yours — would beg leave to address you. 
Age has its claims, — and rank is not without its preten- 
sions to advise; but, though unsupported by both, 'he 
flatters himself, that the plain language of sincerity and 
experience, will neither be unheeded nor unregarded. 
Like many of you. he loved private life, and left it with 
regret. He left it, determined to retire from the field, 
with the necessity that called him to it, and not till 
then, — not till the enemies of his country, the slaves of 
power, and the hirelings of injustice, were compelled to 
abandon their schemes and acknowledge America as 
terrible in arms as she had been humble in remon- 
strance. With this object in view, he has felt the cold 
hand of poverty without a murmur, and has seen the in- 
solence of wealth without a sigh. But too much under 
the direction of his wishes, and sometimes weak enough 
to mistake desire for opinion, he had till lately, very 
lately, believed in the justice of his country. He hoped 
that as the clouds of adversity scattered, and the sun- 
shine of peace and better fortune broke in upon us— that 
gratitude would blaze forth upon those hands which had 
upheld her in the darkest stages of her passage from im- 
pending servitude to acknowledged independence. 

But faith has its limits, as well as temper — and there 
are points beyond which neither can be stretched, with- 
out sinking into cowardice, or plunging into credulity. 
This, my friends, I conceive to be your situation — hur- 
ried to the very verge of both, another step would ruin 
you forever. To be tame and unprovoked while in- 
juries press U])on you is more than iccakncss. But to 



I'M I". Ni:\\l!l'RC.H I.F.TI'KR,^ IO9 

look up tor kinder usage without one manly effort of 
your own — would fix your character and show the world 
how richly you deserve the chains you broke. 

To guard against this evil, let us take a view <»f the 
ground on which we now stand ; and from thence carry 
our thoughts forward for a moment, into the unexplored 
field of expedient. After a pursuit of seven long years, 
the object for which we set out is at length brought with- 
in our reach. Yes. my friends, that suffering courage 
of yours was active once. It has conducted tlie I'nited 
States of .America through a doubtful and bloody war — ■ 
it has placed her in the chair of independence, and 
peace returns again — to bless — whom ? A countrv wil- 
ling to redress your wrongs — cherish your worth — and 
reward your service? A country — courting your retiuni 
to private life, with tears of gratitude and smiles of ad- 
miration, longing to divide with you that independencv 
which your gallantry has given, and those riches which 
your wounds have preserved? Is this the case — or is it 
rather a country that tramples u])on your rights, dis- 
dains your cries and insults your distress? Have you 
not more than once suggested your wishes and made 
known your wants to Congress (wants and wishes which 
policy and justice should have anticipated rather than 
evaded) — and have you not lately, in the meek language 
of an entreating memorial, begged from justice what 
you could no longer expect from their favor? How have 
you been answered? Let the letter which you are called 
to consider to-morrow, make the replv. 

H this, then, be your treatment while the swords \-ou 
wear are necessary for the defence of America, what 
have you to expect from peace, when \-our voice sliall 
sink and your strength dissipate by c'ivision? When 
those very swords, the instruments and companions of 
your glory, shall be taken from your sides, and no re- 
maining mark of military distinction left but vour wants, 
infirmities and scars ! Can you then, consent to be the 
only sufferers by this resolution, and, retiring from the 
field, grow old in poverty, wretchedness and contempt? 
Can von con^^cnt to wade through the vile mire of de- 



lie APPENDIX 

pendency, and owe the miserable remnant of that life to 
charity which has hitherto been spent in honor? If you 
can, go, and carry with you the jest of tories, and the 
scorn of whigs — the ridicule, and what is worse, the pity 
of the world; go, starve, and be forgotten. But, if your 
spirit should recoil at this — if you have sense enough to 
discover, and spirit sufficient to oppose tyranny, under 
whatever garb it may assume, whether it be the plain 
coat of republicanism or the splendid robes of royalty ; 
if you have not yet learned to discriminate between a 
people and a cause — between men and principles — awake 
— attend to your situation, and redress yourselves. If 
the present moment be lost, every future efifort is in vain. 
Your threats then will be as empty as your entreaties 
now. I would advise you, therefore, to come to some 
final opinion of what you can bear and what you will 
sufifer. If your determination be in any proportion to 
your wrongs, carry your appeal from the justice to the 
fears of government ; change the milk and water style 
of your last memorial ; assume a bolder tone, decent 
but lively, spirited and determined, and suspect the man 
who will advise to more moderation and longer forbear- 
ance. 

Let two or three men, who can feel as well as write, be 
appointed to draw up your last remonstrance ( for I would 
no longer give it the sueing, soft, unsuccessful epithet of 
memorial). Let it represent, in language that will nei- 
ther dishonor you by its rudeness nor betray you by its 
fears, what has been promised by Congress and what 
has been performed ; how long and how patiently you 
have sufifered ; how little you have asked, and how much 
of that little has been denied. Tell them that though 
you were the first and would wish to be the last to en- 
counter danger — that though despair itself can never 
drive you into dishonor, it may drive you from the field 
— that the wound, often irritated and never healed, may 
at length become incurable ; and that the slightest in- 
dignity from Congress now may operate like the grave, 
and part you forever ; that in any political event the 
army has its alternative. If peace, that nothing shall 



THE NEWBURGII LIVITHRS HI 

separate you from your arms but death: if war. that, 
courting the auspices and inviting the direction of your 
illustrious leader, you will retire to some yet unsettled 
country ; smile in your turn, and "mock when their fear 
Cometh on." But let it represent also that, should they 
comply with the request of your late memorial, it would 
make you more happy and them more respectable ; that 
while the war should continue you would follow their 
standard in the field ; and that wdien it came to end you 
would withdraw into the shade of private life, and give 
the world another subject of wonder and applause — an 
armv victorious over its enemies, victorious over itself. 

I am, &c., 



A meeting of the Gen. and Field Officers is requested 
to attend at the Public Building, at lo o'clock, on Tues- 
day next. An officer from each company is also expect- 
ed, and one or more representatives from the medical 
and other stafif. The object of this meeting is to con- 
sider the late report from our Commissioners in Phila- 
del]:>hia, and what further measures should be taken to 
obtain that redress which thev seem to have solicited in 



To the Officers of the Army: 

March 12, 1783. 

GKxNTLKiMiiN : — Tlic author of a late z-Xddress, anxious 
to deserve, though he should fail to engage, your esteem, 
and determined at every risk to unfold your duty and 
discharge his own, would beg leave to solicit the further 
indulgence of a few moments' attention. Aware of the 
coyness with which his last letter was received, he feels 
himself neither disappointed nor displeased with the 
caution it has met. He well knew that it spoke a lan- 
guage which, till now, had been only heard in a whis- 
per, and that it contained some sentiments wdiich confi- 
dence itself would have breathed with distrust. 

But their lives have been short and their observation 
imperfect, indeed, who have yet to learn that alarms 



112 APPENDIX 

may be false, that the best designs are sometimes obHged 
to assume the worst aspect, and that however synony- 
mous surprise and disaster may be in miUtary phrase, 
in moral and political meaning they convey ideas as dif- 
ferent as they are distinct. Suspicion, detestable as it 
is in private life, is the loveliest trait of political char- 
acter. It prompts you to inquiry. It shuts the door 
against tlesign, and opens every avenue to truth. It was 
the first to oppose a Tyrant here, and still stands senti- 
nel over the liberties of America; with this belief, it 
would illy become me to stifle the voice of this honest 
guardian — a guardian who (authorized by circumstances 
digested into proof) has herself given birth to the ad- 
dress you have read and now goes forth among you with 
a request to all that it may be treated fairly ; that it may 
be considered before it is abused, and considered before 
it be tortured ; convinced that, in a search after error, 
truth will appear; that apathy itself will grow warm in 
the pursuit, and though it will be the last to adopt her 
advice, it will be the first to act upon it. 

The General Orders of yesterday, which the weak may 
mistake for disapprobation, and the designing dare to 
represent as such — wears, in my opinion, a very ditTerent 
complexion, and carries with it a very opposite tendency. 
Till now — the Commander-in-Chief has regarded the 
steps you have taken for redress, with good wishes 
alone. This ostensible silence has authorized your meet- 
ing, and his private opinion has sanctified your claims. 
Had he disliked the object in view — would not the same 
sense of duty which forbade you from meeting on the 
third day of the week, have forbidden you from meet- 
ing on the seventh? Is not the same subject held up 
for your discussion, and has it not passed the seal of 
office and taken all the solemnity of an order? This 
will give system to your proceedings, and stability to 
your resolves — it will ripen speculation into fact ; and 
while it adds to the unanimity, it cannot possibly lessen 
the independency of your sentiments. It may be neces- 
sary to add upon this subject, that from the injunction 
with which the General Orders close, everv man is at 



TIIK NEWBURGH LETTERS II3 

liberty to conclude that the report to be made to Head- 
quarters is intended for Congress, hence will arise an- 
other motive for that energy which has been recommend- 
ed. For can you give the lie to the pathetic descrip- 
tions of your Representatives and the more alarming 
productions of our friends? To such as make a want of 
signature an objection to opinion, I reply that it matters 
very little who is the author of sentiments which grow 
out of your feelings and apply to your wants — that in 
this instance, diffidence suggested what experience en- 
joins, and that while I continue to move on the high 
road of argument and advice, which is open to all, I 
shall continue to be the sole confident of my own secret. 
Pnit should the time come when it shall be necessary to 
depart from this general line, and hold up any individ- 
ual among you as an object of resentment or contempt 
of the rest, I thus publicly pledge my honor as a soldier, 
and veracity as a man. that I will then assume a visible 
existence, and give my name to the army, with as little 
reserve as I now give my opinion. 

I am, vours. 



114 WASHINGTON S REPLY 



WASHINGTON'S REPLY. 

At the meeting held at the New Building, pursuant to 
Order of March ii (page 69), Washington delivered the 
following address : 

Gentlemen : By an anonymous summons an attempt 
has been made to convene you together. How inconsist- 
ent with the rules of propriety, how unmilitary, and 
how subversive of all order and discipline, let the good 
sense of the army decide. 

In the moment of this summons, another anonymous 
production was sent into circulation, addressed more to 
the feelings and passions than the judgment of the army. 
The author of the piece is entitled to much credit for 
the goodness of his pen ; and I could wish he had as 
much credit for the rectitude of his heart ; for, as men 
see through different optics, and are induced by the re- 
flecting faculties of the mind, to use different means to 
attain the same end, the author of the address should 
have had more charity than to mark for suspicion the 
man who should recommend moderation and longer for- 
bearance ; or in other words, who should not think as he 
thinks, or act as he advises. But he had another plan 
in view, in which candour and liberality of sentiment, 
regard to justice and love of country, have no part; and 
he was right to insinuate the darkest suspicion to effect 
the blackest design. That the address was drawn with 
great art, and is designed to answer the most insidious 
'lurooses ; that is calculated to impress the mind with an 
raea of premediated injustice in the sovereign power of 
the United States, and rouse all those resentments which 
must unavoidably flow from such a belief ; that the se- 
cret mover of this scheme, whoever he may be, intended 
to take advantage of the passions, while they were 
warmed by the recollection of past distresses, without 
giving time for cool, deliberative thinking, and that com- 
posure of mind which is so necessary to give dignity and 



APPENDIX 115 

Stability to measures, is rendered too obvious, by the 
mode of conducting the business, to need other proof 
than a reference to the proceedings. 

Thus much, gentlemen, I have thought it incumbent 
on me to observe to you, to show upon what principles I 
opposed the irregular and hasty meeting which was 
proposed to have been held on Tuesday last, and not be- 
cause I wanted a disposition to give you every oppor- 
tunity, consistent with your own honor, and the dignity 
of the army, to make known your grievances. If my con- 
duct heretofore has not evinced to you, that I have been 
a faithful friend to the army, my declaration of it at this 
time would be equally unavailing and improper. But as 
I was among the first who embarked in the cause of our 
common country; as I have never left your side one 
moment, but when called from you on public duty ; as I 
have been the constant companion and witness of your 
distresses, and not among the last to feel and acknowl- 
edge your merits ; as I have ever considered my own 
military reputation as inseparably connected with that 
of the army ; as my heart has ever expanded with joy 
when I have heard its praises, and my indignation has 
arisen when the mouth of detraction has been opened 
against it ; it can scarcely be supposed at this last stage 
of the war, that I am indifferent to its interests. But 
how are they to be promoted ? the way is plain, says the 
anonymous addresser! If war continues, remove into 
the unsettled country ; there establish yourselves, and 
leave an imgrateful country to defend itself ! But who 
are they to defend? our wives, our children, our farms 
and other property which we leave behind us? or in this 
state of hostile separation, are we to take the two first, 
(the latter cannot be removed) to perish in a wilderness, 
with hunger, cold, and nakedness ? 

"If peace takes place, never sheath your swords," 
says he, "until you have obtained full and ample justice." 
This dreadful alternative of either deserting our coun- 
try in the extremest hour of her distress, or turning 
our arms against it. which is the apparent object, un- 
less Congress can be compelled into instant compli- 



ii6 w ashi.\"(;t()\'s ki:i'i.n' 

ance, has something so shocking in it, that humanity 
revolts at the idea. My God ! what can this writer have 
in view, by recommending such measures? Can he be a 
friend to the army ? Can he be a friend to this country ? 
rather is he not an insidious foe ; some emissary, per- 
haps, from New York, plotting the ruin of both, by sow- 
ing the seeds of discord and separation between the civil 
and military powers of the continent? and what a com- 
pliment does he pay to our understandings, when he 
recommends measures, in either alternative, impracti- 
cable in their nature? but here gentlemen I will drop 
the curtain, because it would be as imprudent in me to 
assign my reasons for this opinion, as it would be insult- 
ing to your conception to suppose you stood in need of 
them. A moment's reflection will convince every dis- 
passionate mind of the physical impossibility of carrying 
either proposal into execution. There might, gentlemen, 
be an impropriety in my taking notice, in this address 
to you, of an anonymous production ; but the manner 
in which that performance has been introduced to the 
army ; the effect it was intended to have, together with 
some other circumstances, will amply justify my observa- 
tion on the tendency of that writing. 

With respect to the advice given by the author, to 
suspect the man who shall recommend moderate meas- 
ures and longer forbearance, I spurn it, as every man 
who regards that liberty and reveres that justice for 
which we contend, undoubtedly must; for, if men are to 
be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter 
which may involve the most serious and alarming con- 
sequences that can invite the consideration of mankind, 
reason is of no use to us. The freedom of speech may 
be taken aw^ay, and dumb and silent we may be led, like 
sheep to the slaughter. I cannot in justice to my own 
belief, and what I have great reason to conceive is the 
intention of Congress, conclude this address, without 
giving it as my decided opinion, that, that honorable 
body entertain exalted sentiments of the services of the 
army, and from a full conviction of its merits and suffer- 
ings, will do it complete justice. That their endeavors 



.\i>ri:.\i)ix 117 

to discover and establish funds for tliis purpose have 
been unwearied, and will not cease until they have suc- 
ceeded, I have not a doubt. 

lint like all other large bodies, where there is a va- 
rietv of different interests to reconcile, their determina- 
tions are slow. Why then should we distrust them? and 
in conse(|uence oi that distrust, adopt measures which 
may cast a shade over that glory which has been .so 
justly ac(|uired, and tarnish the reputation of an army 
which is celebrated through all Europe for its fortitude 
and patriotism? and for what is this done? to bring the 
object we seek nearer? Xo: most certainly in my opin- 
ion, it will cast it at a greater distance. For myself 
(and 1 take no merit in giving the assurance, being in- 
duced to it from principles of gratitude, veracity, and 
justice, and a grateful sense of the confidence you have 
ever placed in me,) a recollection of the cheerful assist- 
ance and prompt obedience I have experienced from 
vou, under every vicissitude of fortune, and the sincere 
affection 1 feel for an army I have so long had the honor 
to command will oblige me to declare in this public and 
solemn manner, that in the attainment of complete jus- 
tice for all your toils and dangers, and in the gratifica- 
tion of every wish, so far as may done consistently with 
the great duty I owe my country, and those powers we 
are bound to respect, you may freely command my ser- 
vices to the utmost extent of my abilities. 

While I give you these assurances, and pledge my- 
self in the most une(|uivocal manner, to exert whatever 
abilities 1 am ])ossessed of in your favor, let me entreat 
vou, gentlemen, on your part, not to take any measures, 
which viewed in the calm light of reason, will lessen the 
dignitv. and sully the glory you have hitherto maintain- 
ed : let me re(|uest you to rely on the plighted faith of 
your country, and place a full confidence in the purity 
oi cue intentions of congress; that, previous to your dis- 
solution as an army, they will cause all your accounts to 
be fairly licjuidated as directed in the resolutions which 
were ])ublished to you two days ago ; and that they will 
adopt the most effectual measures in their power to ren- 



Il8 WASIlIXt'.TOX'S K!:i'LY 

(ler ample justice to you for your faithful and merito- 
rious services. And let me conjure you in the name of 
our common country, as you value your own sacred 
honor ; as you respect the rights of humanity ; and as 
you regard the military and national character of Amer- 
ica ; to express your utmost horror and detestation of 
the man, who wishes, under any specious pretences, to 
overturn the liberties of our country ; and who wickedly 
attempts to open the flood gates of civil discord, and 
deluge our rising empire in blood. 

By thus determining, and thus acting, you will pur- 
sue the plain and direct road to the attainment of your 
wishes ; you will defeat the insidious designs of our ene- 
mies, who are compelled to resort from open force to 
secret artifice. You will give one more distinguished 
proof of unexampled patriotism and patient virtue, ris- 
ing superior to the pressure of the most complicated 
sufferings; and you will, by the dignit}' of your conduct, 
afford occasion for posterity to sa}', when speaking of 
the glorious example you have exhibited to mankind : 
had this day been wanting the world had never seen the 
last stage of perfection to which human nature is cap- 
able of attaining." 



PROCEEDINGS OF MEETING. 

At the conclusion of the reading of the address, on 
motion of General Putnam, a committee consisting of 
General Knox, Colonel Brooks, and Captain Howard, 
was appointed to prepare resolutions on the business 
before them, and to report in half an hour. The re- 
port of the committee being brought in and fully con- 
sidered, the following resolutions were passed : 

"Rcsolz'i'd unanimously, tliat at the commencement of the 
present war, the officers of tlie American army engaged in tlie 
service of tlieir country from the purest love and attachment 
to the rights and lil)erties of human nature: which motives still 
exist in the highest degree; anfl that nn circumstances of dis- 
tress or danger shall induce a conduct that may tend to sully 



AI'l'KXDIX 119 

tlic reputation and glory wliicli they acquirod, at the price of 
tlicir lilood and eight years" faitliful services. 

Rcsolz'cd nnanimously, that the army continue to have an un- 
shaken confidence in the justice of congress and their country, 
and arc fully convinced that the representatives of America 
will not disl)and or disperse the army until their accounts are 
liquidated, the balances accurately ascertained, and adequate 
funds established for payment ; and in this arrangement, the 
officers expect that the half pay, or a conmiutation for it, should 
be efficaciously comprehended. 

Rcsok'cd unanimously, that his excellency the conunander-in- 
chief 1m; requested to write to his excellency the president of 
congress, earnestly entreating the most speedy decision of that 
honorable body upon the subject of our late address, which 
was forwarded by a connnillee of the army, some of whom arc 
waiting upon congress for the result. In the aUernati\e of 
peace c:)r war, this event would be highly satisfactory, and would 
produce immediate tranquility in the minds of the army, and 
prevent any further machinations of designing men, to sow 
discord between the civil and military powers of the United 
States. 

( )n motion, resolved unanimously, that the officers of the 
American army view with abhorrence and reject with disdain, 
the infamous propositions contained in a late anonymous address 
to the officers of the army, and resent with indignation the secret 
attempts of some unknown persons to collect the officers together, 
in a manner totally subversive of all discipline and good order. 

Rcsolc'cd unanimously, that the thanks of the officers of the 
army be given to the conunittee who presented to congress 
the late address of the army, for the wisdom and prudence with 
which they have conducted that business ; and that a copy of 
the proceedings of this day be transmitted by the president to 
Major-General ^^I'Dougal ; and that he be requested to continue 
his solicitations at congress, until the olijects of his mission arc 
accomplished." 



I20 FAREWELL ORDERS 



WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ORDERS. 

Head-quarters, 
Rocky Hill,* N. J., Nov. 2, 1783. 

The United States in Congress assembled, after giving 
the most honorable testimony to the merits of the fed- 
eral armies, and presenting them with the thanks of 
their country for their long, eminent and faithful servi- 
ces, having thought proper, by their proclamation bear- 
ing date the i8th of October last, to discharge such 
part of the troops as were engaged for the war, and to 
permit the officers on furlough to retire from service 
from and after to-morrow, which proclamation having 
been communicated in the public papers for the inform- 
ation and government of all concerned — it only remain- 
ing for the Commander-in-Chief to address himself 
once more, and that for the last time, to the armies of 
the United States (however widely dispersed the indi- 
viduals who composed them may be) and to bid them an 
affectionate — a long farewell. 

But before the Commander-in-Chief takes his final 
leave of those he holds most dear, he wishes to indulge 
himself a few moments in calling to mind a slight review 
of the past — he will then take the liberty of exploring 
with his military friends their future prospects, of ad- 
vising the general line of conduct which in his opinion 
ought to be pursued — and he will conclude the address 
by expressing the obligations he feels himself under for 
the spirited and able assistance he has experienced from 
them in the performance of an arduous office. 

A contemplation of the complete attainment (at a 
period earlier than could have been expected) of the ob- 
ject for which we contended, against so formidable a 

* Rocky Hill was a small town near Princeton, N. J., where 
Congress was assembled. In order to have Washington near 
that body, a Iiouse had been hired at Rocky Hill for him and hi> 
family. When the Order was promidgate'd, Washington was at 
West Point. 



Al'l'KXniX 121 

power, cannot but inspire us with astonishment and 
gratitude. The disadvantageous circumstances on our 
part, under which the war was undertaken can never be 
forgotten. The singuhu- interpositions of providence in 
our feeble condition, were such as could scarcely escape 
the attention of the most unobserving — while the un- 
paralleled perseverance of the armies of the United 
States, through almost every possible suffering and dis- 
couragement, for the space of eight long years, was lit- 
tle short of a standing miracle. 

It is not the meaning, nor within the c()ni])ass of this 
address to detail the hardships peculiarly incident to 
our services, or to describe the distresses which' in sev- 
eral instances have resulted from the extremes of hun- 
ger and nakedness combined with the rigors of an incle- 
ment season. Nor is it necessary to dwell on the dark 
side of our past alTairs. 

Every American olftcer and soldier must now console 
himself for any unpleasant circumstances which may 
have occurred, by a recollection of the uncommon scenes 
in which he has been called to act no inglorious part, 
and the astonishing events of which he has been a 
witness. 

Events, which have seldom, if ever before, taken place 
on the stage of human action, nor can they probably 
ever happen again, h'or who has before seen a disci- 
plined army formed at once from such raw material ? 
Who that was not a witness could imagine that the most 
violent local prejudices would cease so soon, and that 
men who came from the different parts of the continent, 
strongly disposed by the habits of education to despise 
and quarrel with each other, would instantly become 
but one patriotic band of brothers ? Or who that was 
not on the spot can trace the steps by which such a won- 
derful revolution has been efifected, and such a glorious 
period put to our warlike toils ? 

It is universally acknowledged that the enlarged pros- 
pect of happiness opened by the confirmation of our in- 
dependence and sovereignty, almost exceeds the power 
of description. .\nd shall not the brave men who have 



122 FAREWELL ORDERS 

contributed so essentially to these inestimable acquisi- 
tions, returning from the field of war, to the field of 
agriculture, participate in all the blessings which have 
been obtained ? In such a Republic who will exclude 
them from the rights of citizens, and the fruits of their 
labors? In such a country so happily circumstanced, 
the pursuits of commerce and the cultivation of the soil 
will unfold to industry the certain road to competence. 

To those hardy soldiers who are actuated by the spirit 
of adventure, the fisheries will afford ample and profit- 
able employments, and the extensive and fertile regions 
of the West will yield a most happy asylum to those, 
who fond of domestic enjoyment are seeking for personal 
independence. Nor is it possible to conceive that any 
one of the United States will prefer a national bank- 
ruptcy and a dissolution of the union to a compliance 
with requisitions of Congress and the payment of its 
just debts. So that the officers and soldiers may expect 
considerable assistance in recommencing their civil oc- 
cupations from the sums due to them from the public 
which must, and will most inevitably be paid. 

In order to effect this desirable purpose, and remove 
the prejudices which may have taken possession of the 
minds of any of the good people of this state, it is earn- 
estly recommended to all the troops, that with strong 
attachment to the union they should carry with them 
into civil society, the most conciliating dispositions, and 
that they should prove themselves not less virtuous and 
useful as citizens, than they have been virtuous as 
soldiers. What though there should be some envious in- 
dividuals who are unwilling to pay the debt the public 
has contracted, or to yield the tribute due to merit, yet 
let such unworthy treatment produce no invectives, or 
any instance of intemperate conduct. Let it be remem- 
bered, that the unbiased voice of the free citizens of the 
United States has promised the just reward, and given 
the merited applause. Let it be known and remember- 
ed that the reputation of the federal armies is establish- 
ed beyond the reach of malevolence. And let a con- 
sciousness of their achievements and fame still incite the 



API'KNDIX 123 

men who composed them to honorable actions, under 
the persuasions that the private virtues of economy, 
prudence, and industry, will not be less amiable in civil 
life, than the more splendid qualities of valor, persevcr- 
ence and enterprise were in the field. Every one may 
rest assured that much, very much of the future happi- 
ness of the officers and men will depend upon the wise 
and manly conduct which shall be adopted by them, 
when they are mingled with the great body of the com- 
munity. And although the General has so frequently 
given it as his opinion, in the most public and explicit 
manner, that unless the principles of the federal govern- 
ment are properly supported and the powers of the 
union increased, the honor, dignity, and justice of the 
nation will be lost forever ; yet he cannot help repeating 
on this occasion so interesting a sentiment, and leaving 
it as his last injunction to every officer and every soldier 
who may view the subject in the same serious point of 
light, to add his best endeavors to those of his worthy 
fellow citizens towards afifecting these great and valuable 
purposes, on which our very existence as a nation so 
materially depends. 

The Commander-in-Chief conceives little is now want- 
ing to enable the soldier to exchange the military char- 
acter into that of the citizen, but that steady, decent 
tenor of behavior, which has generally distinguished 
not only the army under his immediate command, but 
the different detachments and separate armies through 
the course of the war. From their good sense and pru- 
dence, he anticipates the hapjiiest consequences ; and 
while he congratulates them on the gloritnis occasion 
which renders their services in the field no longer nec- 
essary, he wishes to express the strong obligations he 
feels himself under for the assistance he has received 
from every class — and in every instance. He presents 
his thanks in the most serious and affectionate manner, 
to the general officers, as well for their counsels on 
many interesting occasions, as for their ardor in promot- 
ing the success of the plans he had adopted. To 
the commandants of regiments and corps, and to the 



124 FAREWELL ORDERS 

others, for their great zeal and attention in carrying his 
orders promptly into execution — to the staff for their 
alacrity and exactness in performing the duties of their 
several departments. And to the non-commissioned 
officers and private soldiers, for their extraordinary pa- 
tience and suffering, as well as their invincible fortitude 
in action. To the various branches of the army, the 
General takes this last and solemn opportunity of pro- 
fessing his inviolable attachment and friendship. He 
wishes more than bare professions were in his power ; 
that he was really able to be useful to them all in future 
life; he flatters himself, however, they will do him the 
justice to believe, that whatever could with propriety be 
attempted by him, has been done. And being now to 
conclude these his last public orders, to take his ulti- 
mate leave in a short time of the military character, and 
to bid a final adieu to the armies he has long had the 
honor to command — he can only again offer in their be- 
half, his recommendations to their grateful country, 
and his prayers to the God of armies. 

May ample justice be done them here; and may the 
choicest of Heaven's favors, both here and hereafter, 
attend those, who under the divine auspices, have secur- 
ed innumerable blessings for others. With these wishes 
and this benediction, the Commander-in-Chief is about 
to retire from service — the curtain of separation will 
soon be drawn — and the military scene to him will be 
closed forever. 



AFPIiNDlX 



125 



OFFICERS OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY. 

1780. 



Commander-in-Chief : 
(JKOUUK WASIIIXOTON, JIM: i; 



8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 



MAJOR GENERALS. 

Name Date of Com. State. Remarks 

Israel Putnam June 10, 1775 ("onnecticut 

Horatio Gates Nov. 10, 1776 Virjfinia 

Benedict Arnold Feb. 10, 1777 ("onn. Deserted Sept. 

Win. Alexander (Stirliiii;) do <lo New Jersey 2;{. 17S0 

Arthur St. Clair do do Pennsylvania 

Benjamin IJneoln do do Massaeluisetts 

Maniuis de Eafayettc July 31, 1777 France 

William Heath Aug. 0, 1777 Massaehusetts 

Nathaniel Greene do do Rhode Island 

Baron De Kalb Sept. 15. 1777 Foreigner, Killed Aug. 

Robert Howe Oct. 20, 1777 N. Carolina 16, 1780 

Alexander MeDougall. do do New York 

Baron De Steuben May 5. 1778 Germany Insp. Gen. ye 

William Smallwood... Sept. 15. 1780 Maryland Prom '80[arniv 

Samuel H. I'arsons... Oet. 2;?. 17S<I Ci.niiecticut Prom 17S<) 



BRIGADIER GENEK.VI.S. 

William Thompson.... March 1. 177ti 

John Nixon Aug. 0, 1776 .Mass. Res. Feb. 1880 

Samuel H. Parsons... do do ("onneet't From. Oct. '80 

James Clinton do do New York 

William Moultrie Sept. 16. 1776 

Laughlin Mcintosh.... do do Resigned 

William Maxwell 0<'t. 13. 1776 N. J., Res'd, oblig'd to 

William SmailwcMid.. . . do do Maryl'd Prom. Sept. '80 

Henry Knox Dec. 27. 177r> Mass. Commd'g Art'y 

Enoch I'oor Fel). 21, 1777 N. H. Died Sep. 9, bur- 
John Glover do do Mass. [ried at Hack- 
John Patterson do do do [ensaek 10th 

.\ntliony Wayne do do Pennsvlvania 

\Villiiim Woodford.... do do Virginia Died Nov. 1780 

Edwai-d Hand April 1, 1777 Pennsvlvania 

Charles Scott 

Jedediah Huntingdon. May 12, 1777 Connecticut 

John Stark Oct. 4, 1777 N. Hampshire 

Louis Lel)e(iue Duportall Nov. 17. 1777 Foreigner Ch. Eng. army 

James Hogan Jan. 0, 1770 

Mordecai (Jist do do Maryland 

William Irvine May 12. 1770 Pennsvlvania 

Daiii.'l Morgan Oct. 13. 17,S() Virginia 



126 CONTINENTAL OFFICERS 

COLONELS. 

f^^„. Date of Com. State. Remarks 

1 arovenor van Schaick June 30 1775 ^ew York^^^^ 

2 John Bailey.;- ^ \o Connecticut 

3 Samuel Wyllis j" «» Massachusetts 

4 John Greaton... Jl' ih ^^^.^^ 

5 James Livingston Mn . -'^•^|^'^ Pennsylvania 

6 Robert McGraw J- n. o,^ i<<o 

7 Moses Hazen J^"- 5- j^^g n^,,. jgi-sey 

8 Elias Dayton......... t^eo. y, x^|^ Massachusetts 

9 William Sheppard.... Ma> 4, lUb .^^^^j^^ 

10 Seth -SVarner Jub -I' ^77(5 Massachusetts 

11 Rufus Putnam Au«. o, ino j^j^g^jj^i^ugetts 

12 Thomas Nixon. Aug. y, 1 < ^ > Pennsylvania 

13 Francis Johnston Jan. 1, lin ■^_^ 

14 James Chambers do do ^^^ 

15 Daniel Brodhead do ^o y -^^^.^ 

16 Richard Hampton o do s^^^ 

17 Daniel Morgan o ao ^^^^ ^.^^.j. 

18 James Woo<i... (i" ^^ N^^ jersey 

19 Phihp Cortland ^o uo ^^^^ ^ork 

20 Israel Shneve... «« ^^ ;v^.ew Jersey 

21 Peter Ganscvoort ao uo y ^..i^ 

22 Matthias Ogden ^o ^^ Marylaud 

23 William Russell do ut^ ^^ Hampshire 

24 Jonas Carroll. .....•■ ■ "o u Maryland 

25 Alexander Scammel... o ao Massachusetts 

26 Chr: H. Williams. .. . o ^o ^^^ 

27 Michael Jackson o ua ^^^^^^ uiand 

28 Philip Bradley........ « ^^^ Massachusetts 

20 Christopher Greene... ao ^^ Connecticut 

30 James Wesson "« " do 

31 John Duryea "o ^^^^^^^ j^j.^^^^^ 

32 Hemau ^wift "" ^ Connecticut 

33 Henry Sherburne ao ^ Massachusetts 

34 Samuel B Webb do ao ^^ 

35 Thomas Marshall..... ao Massachusetts 

36 Gamaliel Bradford ao u y; ,;„!., 

37 Nathaniel Gist Ja"- \Vi' ^. Massachusetts 

38 Henry Jackson J**"- ^%' u uhode Island 

39 Israel Angell -j^'"- ^^' .. New Jersey 

40 Oliver Spencer •''»¥• ;i"^' .. n. Carolina 

41 Thomas Clark £,^^^• V .. Massachusetts 

42 Timothy Bigelow {;eD. .^ ,, ^^^^ 

43 Josiah Vose ^ >; ; 7 ' <' >f. Hampshire 

44 Joseph Ci ey ■)^\.. J .. Delaware 

45 David Hull Ao'l 17 " Maryland 

46 John Gunby.. f\t ' ..; .. Connecticut Inspector 

47 Return J. Meigs »J;'> .^:^' .. Connecticut 

48 Josiah Starr. -•■ =' .. Pennsylvania 

49 Richard Butler -1 ^^^, [■ .. ^o 

50 Walter Steward •' '; „"• .. Massachusetts 

51 Benjamin Tupper JuiJ .. ,^ Pennsylvania 

52 Thomas Cringe Ait ' 4 ' " Virginia 

53 Cliristian Febiger l»ct. -i. .. ^^ 

54 John (iibson ^,'^;^; "^^ „ j,j Carolina 

55 John Patton i^ov. --, ^. Virginia 

56 John Newell Tan 26, 1778, do 

57 John Green. J^"- -^^ .. ao 

58 Richard Parker i^eu. lu. Connecticut 

59 Zebulon Butler .. Virginia 

60 William Davis. -^^ <:" ^ ' .. Massachusetts 

61 William Heath ..... Api crn ^^ Virginia 

62 Abraham Beaufort.... Maj 10. ^ 
6.3 Geo. Gibson. 5th State June 5, 1777 do 
64 Wm. Grant. State Reg. Jan. 1, 1779 do 



APPENDIX 



12: 



LIEl'TKNANT COLON KLS COMMANOANTS 

Name Date of Com. State. 

Niithanlol Ilsimsey Marylniui 

George Reed M\A\ 1, 1778 N. Hampshire 

Ebenezer Sprout Sep. 29, " Massachusetts 

John Brooks Nov. 11, " New York 

Frederick Weisenfeldt Dec. 14, " do 

AVilliam Butler Jan. 22, 177!) Pennsylvania 

Adam Habbley ^ „ tlo _ 

Calvin Smith M'ch 10, 17(9 Ma.ssachusetts 

Morgan Conner May 12, " I'ennsylvania 

Isaac Sherman Oct. 28, " Connecticut 

Thomas Woolford " Maryland 

Marinus Willett Dec. 22. " New "iork 



Remarks 



Inspector 
Inspector 



.3 

4 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

ir. 

16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 



28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
■<) 
ar> 
37 
3K 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
44 

4r> 

4t! 
47 
4S 
49 



I.IIOUTENANT COLONELS. 

Edward Antill Ian. 20, 177G ■ 

Samuel Safford July 5, " — - 

Cornelius Van Dyke.. Jan. 1, 1777 New York 

James Brewer do do do 

David Beardslev do do New Jersey 

AVilliam De Hart do do do 

Francis Barber do do do 

William Smith do do do 

James Miller do do do 

AViiiiam Staeey do do do 

Baraircah Bassett.... do do do 

Noah M. Littletield. .. do do do 

Jeremiah Olnev Jan. 13. 1777 Uhode Island 

David Cobb Feb. 1, " Ma.ssachusetts 

Henrv Haskell Feb. 8. •' do 

Peter Adams Feb. 20. " Maryland 

Elijah Vose Feb. 21, " Massachusetts 

Benjamin Ford April 17, " Maryland 

TTriiih Forrest do " do 

John Sumner April 28. " ', mnicc icut 

Ezra Newell Mav 17, " Massachusetts 

Josiah Harmar lune 0, " Penns.vlvaiua 

Thomas Robinson June 7. " do 

Ezra Badlam July 7. " Massachusetts 

Cliarles Simms July 12. " \ irRima 

Joseph Haight Sept. 8. " ( oiinccticut 

Henrv Dearborn Sept. 19, " N- Hampshire 

Stephen Bavard — Penn.sylvania 

Robert Ballard ^. ^. TT 

\\m. Lee Davids Oct. 4. 1777 N. Carolina 

Caleb North Oct. 23, " Pennsylvania 

Selbv Harney Nov. 22, " N.- (.aroUna 

Burger Ball Dec. 17, " \ nginia 

Josiah Thompson Dec. 19, " _ 

Jeremiah Oilmore Dec. 20, " -v Hampshire 

Samuel Hav Feb. 3. 1778 Pennsylvania 

Richard Canii)bell . . . . Feb. 20. " . . 

Samuel Hawes M'ch 1. " Mrgnna 

David F. Sill do " ( oiuiecticut 

John E. Howard M'ch 11. " .Maryland 

Thomas Grosvenor. .. . M'ch 13. " ( onnecticut 

Justin B. Wallace.... M'ch 20, " Virginia 

Thomas Gaskins May 10. *' , d" 

Jonathan Johnston.... May 25, " (onnecticut 

He7.<>kiah Iloldredge.. do " , ", , , 

Samuel Ward May 2(i, " Rhode Island 

Samuel Hopkins June 19, " 

Daniel Whiting June 2.5, " Massachusetts 

Francis Mentges Oct. 9, " Pennsylvania 



Resigned 



128 COXTIXEXTAL OFFICERS 

Name Date of Com. State. Remarks 

50 Ebenezer Huntinsrdon Oct. 10, " Connecticut 

51 Ebenezer Gray Oct. 15, " do 

52 John More.v Dec. 10, " Pennsylvania 

53 Tobias Furnald M'ch 6, 1779 Massachusetts 

54 Edward Fllbard May 22. " Maryland 

55 Samuel I. Cabell Virginia 

56 Jonathan Clark do 

57 Charles Dabuey June 23. 1777 State Regt. do. 

58 John Allison Feb. 11. 1779 do do. 

59 John Conway Xew Jersey 

60 Andrew Peters Massachusetts 

61 William Hull do Inspector 

62 Robert Corcoran Feb., 17S0 Pennsylvania 

63 Christopher Stewart.. April 17. 1780 do 



LIST OF THE TRUSTEES OF WASHINGTON'S 
HEAD-OUARTERS. 



1883. 

Term expires. 

JOHN C. ADA^IS Mav 2, 1884 

JOEL T. HEADLEY April 2. 1884 

EDWARD C. BOYNTON March 30, 1885 

TAMES G. GRAHAM May 6, 1886 

PETER WARD May 6, 1886 

CHARLES S. JENKINS May 6, 1886 

^IICHAEL H. HIRSCHBERG May 2. 1887 

A. SMITH RING May 2. 1887 

J. H. H. CHAPMAN Mav 2, 1888 

DAVID CARSON May 2, i\ 

1909. 
HOWARD THORNTON, Prest. 
GEN. H. C. HASBROUCK, Vice-Prest. 
CHARLES D. ROBINSON. Treas. 
WM. COOK BELKNAP, Sec'v. 
T. G. GRAHAM. TR. 
W. F. CASSEDY" 
A. Y. WELLER 
S. V. SCHOONMAKER 
DAVID A. MORRISON 
TOHN DEYO. M. D. 



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